Marquette vs. Xavier score: Golden Eagles dominate Musketeers to claim first Big East Tournament title

Marquette enters the 2023 NCAA Tournament with a ton of momentum after the emphatic title win on Saturday

After winning a Big East regular-season title for the first time since 2013, Marquette followed up Saturday by adding a conference tournament crown with a 65-51 win over No. 2 seed Xavier. The victory marks the Golden Eagles' first league tournament title since 1997 when the program was a member of Conference USA.

Marquette needed overtime to beat St. John's in the quarterfinals and played another thriller against UConn in the semifinals on Friday, but the Golden Eagles dominated from start to finish against the Musketeers. Less than eight minutes in, Marquette led 21-4 and built the lead up 27 at one point in the second half.

Xavier cut the deficit to 61-46 with under four minutes to play and forced a Marquette timeout, but the Musketeers didn't have the time or firepower to create any late drama. Tyler Kolek led Marquette with 20 points and the Golden Eagles limited Xavier to just 34.4% shooting while forcing 13 turnovers. Conversely, Marquette turned the ball over just four times, denying Xavier opportunities to build momentum and quicken the pace during the second half.

2023 Big East Tournament scores

First round -- Wednesday, March 8
Game 1: No. 8 St. John's 76, No. 9 Butler 63 | Recap
Game 2: No. 10 DePaul 66, No. 7 Seton Hall 65 | Recap
Game 3: No. 6 Villanova 80, No. 11 Georgetown 48 | Recap

Quarterfinals -- Thursday, March 9
Game 4: No. 1 Marquette 72, No. 8 St. John's 70 (OT) | Recap
Game 5: No. 4 UConn 73, No. 5 Providence 66 | Recap
Game 6: No. 2 Xavier 89, No. 10 DePaul 84 | Recap
Game 7: No. 3 Creighton 87, No. 6 Villanova 7 | Recap

Semifinals -- Friday, March 10
Game 8: No. 1 Marquette 70, No. 4 UConn 68 -- Recap
Game 9: No. 2 Xavier 82, No. 3 Creighton 60 -- Recap

Big East Tournament Championship Game -- Saturday, March 11
Game 10: No. 1 Marquette 65, No. 2 Xavier 51 | Recap

[Mar 11, 2023 at 9:37 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

It’s official. @MarquetteMBB are your @BIGEASTMBB CHAMPIONS pic.twitter.com/SPu9tJDHWn

— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 9:22 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

Marquette Wins BIG EAST Tournament with 65-51 Victory Over Xavier

Recap:⤵️https://t.co/UPaysqNTR2#MUBB | #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/NiasA11iTi

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 8:59 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

The @WBsilverlining highlights from the 2023 BIG EAST Tournament final of Marquette vs Xavier on March 10, 2023.#MUBB | #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/5zG2Rma3ZL

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 8:50 pm ET · @XavierMBB via Twitter]

Adam Kunkel had 14 points, Desmond Claude finished with 11 and Jerome Hunter added 10 as the Musketeers fell to Marquette in the BIG EAST Championship.

Presented by @TriHealth pic.twitter.com/zx2RXjZvBN

— Xavier Basketball (@XavierMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 8:50 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

Your 2023 @BIGEASTMBB Tournament Champions! #MUBB | #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/lUf9EEllW6

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 8:47 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

PASSION! @rwbaird | #MUBB pic.twitter.com/Zj59M3cg4p

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 8:31 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

TK with the touch 🤌#MUBB | #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/VFG88KCDoY

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 8:30 pm ET · @XavierMBB via Twitter]

Claude ➡️ Hunter. pic.twitter.com/B9oyea7cBW

— Xavier Basketball (@XavierMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 8:29 pm ET · @XavierMBB via Twitter]

Desmond Claude makes it eight straight Xavier points. pic.twitter.com/93mgxFY5cz

— Xavier Basketball (@XavierMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 8:26 pm ET · @XavierMBB via Twitter]

𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠-𝙩𝙤-𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘼𝙙𝙖𝙢 𝙆𝙪𝙣𝙠𝙚𝙡. pic.twitter.com/AE7PJHrLyc

— Xavier Basketball (@XavierMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 8:25 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

#MUBB 61 | XU 46 | 2H | 3:53

Xavier hits back-to-back treys and MU calls timeout. Golden Eagles shooting just 38 percent from the floor, but have 17 points off turnovers and have held XU to 33 percent. pic.twitter.com/Qfp4dVQnZj

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 8:12 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

#MUBB 57 | XU 37 | 2H | 7:52

Mitchell shooting two after timeout. Kolek leads with 18 points.

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 8:11 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

Kolek from deep 3⃣#MUBB | #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/IXdJhk4G1K

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 8:09 pm ET · @XavierMBB via Twitter]

Adam Kunkel for three makes it a 10-0 Xavier run. pic.twitter.com/6lA9CzJGk5

— Xavier Basketball (@XavierMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 8:02 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

EGB ⚡️⚡️⚡️#MUBB | #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/On54ucms3D

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 8:02 pm ET · @XavierMBB via Twitter]

Desmond Claude for 3️⃣. pic.twitter.com/USN9Fz5328

— Xavier Basketball (@XavierMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 8:02 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

#MUBB 54 | XU 32 | 2H | 11:33

Kolek leads three players in double figures with 17 points and MU is holding XU to 31 percent from the floor. pic.twitter.com/Ko9gbOjEdk

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 7:59 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

Defense ➡️ Offense #MUBB | #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/aGrbCm0Ddu

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 7:55 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

Marquette Defense! #MUBB | #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/0K9a6hXvGm

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 7:51 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

#MUBB 45 | XU 26 | 2H | 15:23

Kolek up to 13 points and Kam Jones shooting two free throws after the timeout. pic.twitter.com/r3u7RtYzCu

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 7:49 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

Tyler Kolek with the tough finish.#MUBB | #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/HFpvSgEkNL

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 7:48 pm ET · @XavierMBB via Twitter]

Colby Jones drives the baseline. pic.twitter.com/GXKWNMbfXZ

— Xavier Basketball (@XavierMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 7:37 pm ET · @XavierMBB via Twitter]

📸 | 𝗔𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸.#LetsGoX pic.twitter.com/FeXO5X9RPq

— Xavier Basketball (@XavierMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 7:31 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

20 more minutes of ALL OUT basketball@rwbaird | #MUBB pic.twitter.com/jWQ9M6z3Fv

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 7:26 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

Jop finishes in NYC traffic for the AND-1 💪#MUBB | #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/jtwXHIvdtr

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 7:24 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

Point Oso ‼️#MUBB | #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/krKG1nLhxE

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 7:21 pm ET · @XavierMBB via Twitter]

9️⃣-0️⃣ Xavier run. pic.twitter.com/7drnqKp7lK

— Xavier Basketball (@XavierMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 7:18 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

DEFLECTION 🗣️#MUBB | #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/6ROeIUCIv0

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 7:17 pm ET · @XavierMBB via Twitter]

Hunter offensive board ➡️ Kunkel 3️⃣! pic.twitter.com/ghUT23lYqh

— Xavier Basketball (@XavierMBB) March 12, 2023

[Mar 11, 2023 at 7:16 pm ET · @MarquetteMBB via Twitter]

#MUBB 33 | XU 17 | 1H | 3:53

XU scores on back-to-back possessions and MU calls timeout. MU has scored 10 points off turnovers and has led by as many as 23 points. pic.twitter.com/568DZwW186

— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 12, 2023