Xavier Musketeers Defeat Marquette Golden Eagles 96-88
Saturday, February 14, 2026, 3:00 PM ET · Cintas Center
Xavier Musketeers 96, Marquette Golden Eagles 88, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Marquette Golden Eagles vs Xavier Musketeers?
Xavier Musketeers beat Marquette Golden Eagles 96-88 at Cintas Center on February 14, 2026.
Who was favored in Marquette Golden Eagles vs Xavier Musketeers?
Xavier Musketeers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -130 (about 57% implied). The favorite won.
In an exciting matchup at the Cintas Center, the Xavier Musketeers emerged victorious against the Marquette Golden Eagles, winning 96-88. This game was significant as it marked a crucial moment for Xavier, who had been struggling in recent outings, and it also showcased the competitive spirit of both teams in the NCAAB landscape.
Xavier entered the game with a home record of 13-12 and a recent form of 3-7 over their last ten games, including a two-game losing streak. Their average points scored during this stretch was 78.2, while they allowed an average of 82.4 points per game. Prior to this victory, Xavier had lost to St. John's Red Storm and UConn Huskies, with scores of 82-87 and 60-92, respectively. In contrast, Marquette came into the game with a record of 9-17, having won 4 of their last 10 games but were on a one-game losing streak. The Golden Eagles averaged 75.7 points scored and 76.7 points allowed during that same period. Their previous game ended in a 74-77 loss to the Villanova Wildcats.
At home, Xavier had a record of 3-1 in their last four games, while Marquette struggled away with an 0-6 record. Historically, the two teams had met four times recently, with Marquette leading the head-to-head record at 3-1. Their last encounter was on January 8, 2026, where Marquette narrowly defeated Xavier 66-65. This game added an extra layer of intensity as both teams sought to improve their standings.
In terms of injuries, the block does not specify any players missing from either side, allowing both teams to field their full rosters. The market, as priced by DraftKings, indicated Xavier as the favorite with a spread of -1.5 and a moneyline of -130. Marquette's moneyline was set at +110, reflecting the competitive nature of the matchup. The total points for the game were set at 157.5, with over odds at -115.0 and under odds at -105.0, suggesting expectations for a high-scoring affair.
The game conditions were favorable for an exciting display of basketball, and viewers were treated to a thrilling contest. Xavier's offense was on full display, particularly in the second half, where they managed to maintain their lead and fend off Marquette's attempts to close the gap. Key moments included Nigel James Jr.'s layup and subsequent free throws, which contributed to Marquette's scoring efforts late in the game, but ultimately, Xavier's consistent scoring allowed them to secure the win.
Overall, this game was a testament to Xavier's resilience and ability to perform at home, while Marquette continued to face challenges on the road. The final score of 96-88 highlighted the competitive nature of college basketball, with both teams showcasing their strengths and weaknesses.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | XAV -1.5 | 157.5 o -115 / u -105 | Marquette Golden Eagles +110 · Xavier Musketeers -130 |
Leaders
- PointsJovan Milicevic23Xavier Musketeers
- AssistsMalik Messina-Moore11Xavier Musketeers
- ReboundsFilip Borovicanin11Xavier Musketeers
- PointsNigel James Jr.30Marquette Golden Eagles
- AssistsNigel James Jr.12Marquette Golden Eagles
- ReboundsRoyce Parham10Marquette Golden Eagles
Recent form
Xavier Musketeers
Last 10: 3-7Streak L278.2 scored · 82.4 allowed per game3-1 at home
- L82-87at St. John's Red StormFeb 9
- L60-92at UConn HuskiesFeb 4
- W68-66vs DePaul Blue DemonsJan 31
- L68-86at Seton Hall PiratesJan 29
- L83-88vs St. John's Red StormJan 24
- L93-94at Creighton BluejaysJan 22
- W89-75vs Butler BulldogsJan 14
- W97-84vs Providence FriarsJan 10
- L65-66at Marquette Golden EaglesJan 8
- L77-86at DePaul Blue DemonsJan 3
Marquette Golden Eagles
Last 10: 4-6Streak L175.7 scored · 76.7 allowed per game0-5 away
- L74-77at Villanova WildcatsFeb 11
- W70-55vs Butler BulldogsFeb 7
- L64-69at Seton Hall PiratesJan 31
- W86-62vs Creighton BluejaysJan 28
- L76-87at Butler BulldogsJan 24
- W105-104vs Providence FriarsJan 19
- L75-80at DePaul Blue DemonsJan 17
- L68-92at St. John's Red StormJan 13
- L73-76vs Villanova WildcatsJan 10
- W66-65vs Xavier MusketeersJan 8
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. John's | 30-7 | - | 18-2 |
| UConn | 34-6 | 1 | 17-3 |
| Villanova | 24-9 | 3 | 15-5 |
| Seton Hall | 21-12 | 8 | 10-10 |
| Creighton | 16-18 | 9 | 9-11 |
| DePaul | 16-16 | 10 | 8-12 |
| Butler | 16-16 | 11 | 7-13 |
| Providence | 15-18 | 11 | 7-13 |
| Marquette | 12-20 | 11 | 7-13 |
| Georgetown | 16-18 | 12 | 6-14 |
| Xavier | 15-18 | 12 | 6-14 |
Box score
| Stat | Marquette Golden Eagles | Xavier Musketeers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 36-70 | 31-67 |
| Field goal % | 51 | 46 |
| Three-pointers | 8-25 | 16-34 |
| Three-point % | 32 | 47 |
| Free throws | 8-11 | 18-21 |
| Free throw % | 73 | 86 |
| Rebounds | 36 | 40 |
| Offensive rebounds | 11 | 14 |
| Defensive rebounds | 25 | 26 |
| Assists | 24 | 24 |
| Steals | 4 | 6 |
| Blocks | 5 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 11 | 18 |
| Fast-break points | 11 | 21 |
| Points in the paint | 56 | 24 |
| Fouls | 15 | 13 |
| Largest lead | 3 | 21 |
| Lead changes | 1 | 1 |
| Time in front | 1 | 97 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half51-62Nigel James Jr. makes 5-foot dunk
- 2nd Half51-63Malik Messina-Moore makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-63Chase Ross makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-63Royce Parham makes 3-foot dunk (Nigel James Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half56-63Nigel James Jr. makes 4-foot dunk
- 2nd Half56-65Jovan Milicevic makes 11-foot jumper
- 2nd Half56-68Roddie Anderson III makes 23-foot three point jumper (Malik Messina-Moore assists)
- 2nd Half58-68Ben Gold makes layup (Nigel James Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half58-70Roddie Anderson III makes 11-foot jumper (Malik Messina-Moore assists)
- 2nd Half60-70Ben Gold makes layup (Nigel James Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half63-70Royce Parham makes 25-foot three point jumper (Tre Norman assists)
- 2nd Half65-70Ben Gold makes 4-foot dunk (Nigel James Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half65-71Tre Carroll makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-72Tre Carroll makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-72Royce Parham makes layup (Nigel James Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half69-72Ben Gold makes 4-foot dunk (Nigel James Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half69-75Malik Messina-Moore makes 26-foot three point jumper (Filip Borovicanin assists)
- 2nd Half71-75Nigel James Jr. makes layup (Ben Gold assists)
- 2nd Half71-76Filip Borovicanin makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-77Filip Borovicanin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-77Nigel James Jr. makes layup (Royce Parham assists)
- 2nd Half73-80Jovan Milicevic makes 24-foot three point jumper (Filip Borovicanin assists)
- 2nd Half73-83Filip Borovicanin makes 24-foot three point jumper (Malik Messina-Moore assists)
- 2nd Half76-83Adrien Stevens makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ben Gold assists)
- 2nd Half76-85Jovan Milicevic makes 9-foot jumper (Filip Borovicanin assists)
- 2nd Half78-85Nigel James Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half80-85Chase Ross makes 6-foot jumper
- 2nd Half80-86Tre Carroll makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half80-87Tre Carroll makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half83-87Nigel James Jr. makes 27-foot three point jumper (Ben Gold assists)
- 2nd Half83-89Filip Borovicanin makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half83-91Isaiah Walker makes layup (Filip Borovicanin assists)
- 2nd Half85-91Nigel James Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half86-91Nigel James Jr. makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half86-92Filip Borovicanin makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half86-93Filip Borovicanin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half86-94All Wright makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half86-95All Wright makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half88-95Nigel James Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half88-96All Wright makes free throw 1 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Xavier Musketeers, below favours Marquette Golden Eagles.
Venue
- Cintas CenterCincinnati, OH
- Attendance9924
- OfficialsPat Driscoll, Jeff Clark, Kipp Kissinger
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