Xavier University
Eastern Illinois
Xavier Dominates Eastern Illinois in 45-Point Season-Opening Win
11.19.05 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2005
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CINCINNATI - Senior Brian Thornton scored 20 points on 8-of-8 from the floor and hauled in nine rebounds as Xavier picked up a 45-point win over Eastern Ilinois, 80-35, in XU's season opener at Cintas Center. The Musketeers have now won 16 straight regular season openers.
"Brian Thornton was really dominant tonight. The dunk that he had, that's something that would not have been part of his package last year," said head coach Sean Miller. "Brian has worked really hard. I want him to have a really great senior year. He's one of the leaders of our team."
The Musketeers, who led by as many as 46 points at 5:33 in the second half, 72-26, shot 52 percent from the field compared to the Panthers' dismal .184 field goal percentage. The 35 points scored by EIU were the lowest ever in its Division I history.
The win was Xavier's largest-point victory since beating Long Island, 108-57, on Dec. 8, 2001.
Xavier opened its debut with a 6-0 run over the first four minutes of play. Wes Wilkin broke Eastern Illinios' four-minute scoring drought with a jump shot at the top of the key at 16:09, but the Panthers would score only five more points over the next eight minutes of play. The Panthers, playing XU for the first time in 16 years, shot only 27 percent from the field compared to Xavier's .444 field goal percentage in the first half.
The Musketeers outscored Eastern Illinois, 38-18, in the opening stanza. Thornton led all scorers with 13 points to go along with six rebounds. Eight of Thornton's 13 points came with less than four minutes remaining in the first half.
Xavier continued its dominance in the second half, doubling its lead, 40-20, at 18:42 courtesy of a Dedrick Finn 3-pointer. Thornton added two more baskets and Finn nailed another 3-pointer at 17:11 to extend Xavier's lead to 27-points, 47-20. The Panthers scored only eight points in the second half.
Senior guard Josh Gomes led Eastern Illinois with 11 points and three rebounds. Sophomore George Tandy had a team-high seven rebounds.
Sophomore Josh Duncan scored 12 points on 3-of-6 from the field and senior Will Caudle recorded 11 points including a pair of impressive dunks in just nine minutes of action for the Musketeers. Justin Doellman turned in an impressive effort on the defensive end as the junior recorded a career high six steals and tied a career high with three blocks.
XU will return to the floor next Saturday, Nov. 26, as the Musketeers travel to Indianapolis to take on the Purdue Boilermakers in the opening-game of the Wooden Tradition at Conseco Fieldhouse. The 4:30 p.m. game will be televised regionally on FSN Ohio.
