Xavier overcame a cold shooting start and blowing a 20-point second-half lead to hold on for a 66-62 win over Marist on Monday in Cincinnati in the season opener for both teams.

Malik Messina-Moore paced the new-look Musketeers with 16 points and started a pair of runs that wiped out an early seven-point deficit. His jumper with 3:45 left in the first half gave Xavier the lead for good and began a 14-0 spurt that seemingly gave the home team control of the game.

All Wright and Jovan Milicevic each added 14 off the Xavier bench to make new head coach Richard Pitino a winner in his debut at the Big East school.

Rhyjon Blackwell scored 18 of his game-high 24 points in the second half to lead Marist, which rallied to take the lead late.

Jordan Gabriel hit a pair of free throws with 3:22 re

See Full Page