MILWAUKEE _ The Big East opener between Marquette and Xavier didn't lack for excitement on Wednesday night.
In the end, the Musketeers had a bit more firepower in a 91-87 victory over the Golden Eagles in a high-flying, offensive affair at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Senior guard Andrew Rowsey scored 31 points on 11 of 24 shooting to lead MU (9-4). He shot 6 of 17 on 3-pointers
MU freshman Jamal Cain had 16 points for a new collegiate high. His previous high was 10 points against Chicago State on Nov. 29
Sophomore guard Markus Howard had a rare off night, finishing with 13 points on 6 of 19 shooting. He was 1 of 8 from beyond the arc.
Senior guard Trevon Bluiett had 23 points to lead the No. 6 Musketeers (13-1). Senior guard J.P. Macura added 15.
A 3-pointer by Rowsey tied the game at 80 with 2:31 remaining.
But a jumper by Macura and a 3-pointer by junior forward Kaiser Gates after a loose ball put Xavier ahead for good
MU had the ball and was trailing, 85-82, with 47 seconds left. Rowsey missed a 3-pointer and then a mid-range floater after an offensive rebound by sophomore center Harry Froling.
The Musketeers salted away the victory from the free-throw line after that.
Xavier shot 31 of 61 (50.8 percent) for the game. MU was at 32 of 69 (46.4 percent).
The first half featured five ties and six lead changes with the Musketeers taking a 42-39 lead into the break.
Rowsey scored 14 points in the first 20 minutes to lead the Golden Eagles. Bluiett had 11 points for Xavier.
MU had a slow start, missing its first four shots and going scoreless until Rowsey sank a 3-pointer deep in the right corner 3:09 into the game.
The Golden Eagles recovered enough to go on a 10-0 run over a 3:18 stretch to take a 19-15 lead.
Rowsey and Howard each picked up two fouls in the first 20 minutes, something that plagued the backcourt duo in the non-conference season.
But freshmen wings Cain and Greg Elliott continued their improved play and gave MU some energy on defense. The longtime friends from the Detroit area combined for 10 points and three steals before intermission.
MU shot 6 of 17 (30.8 percent) on 3-pointers, including 0 of 4 from Howard, in the first half.
The Golden Eagles swept the season series with Xavier last year, claiming an 83-61 victory at the Bradley Center on Feb. 18 and a 95-84 win on in Cincinnati March 4.
MU gets two days off before its next conference game at home against Georgetown on Saturday.
