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Marquette holds off St. John's 101-93 in Big East Tournament

NEW YORK -- After building a large lead against a struggling team, Marquette narrowly avoided a short stay at the Big East Tournament.

Henry Ellenson had 27 points and 14 rebounds, Jajuan Johnson scored 23 points off the bench and Marquette held off a furious rally by feisty St. John's for a 101-93 victory in the first round Wednesday night.

Freshman guard Haanif Cheatham added 19 points for the seventh-seeded Golden Eagles (20-12). They advanced to play fifth-ranked and second-seeded Xavier in the quarterfinals Thursday night.

"We're going to pull out the AAU handbook on two games in one day, and see how the best advance in the platinum division," Marquette coach Steve Wojciechowski said.