Xavier University
Coppin State
Men's Basketball Downs Coppin State 81-56
11.29.05 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 29, 2005
CINCINNATI - Senior center Brian Thornton led four Musketeers in double-figures with 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field as the Xavier University men's basketball team downed Coppin State 81-56 on Tuesday evening at Cintas Center. With the win, Xavier improves to 3-0 on the season while the Eagles slip to 0-5.
Sophomore guard Stanley Burrell scored 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting and senior guard Dedrick Finn added 12 points while dishing-out a game-high seven assists.
Sophomore forward Josh Duncan joined the trio in double-figures with 10 points. Thornton also pulled down a game-high seven rebounds and tied a career high with three blocked shots.
The Musketeers' offense was in full gear on Tuesday as XU shot a blistering 60.4 percent (29-of-48) from the field while 23 of Xavier's baskets came via the assist. The 23 XU assists came against a season-low 11 turnovers.
XU was out-rebounded by Coppin State 33-to-27 but the Musketeers held a commanding 38-14 advantage in points in the paint.
XU extended its 35-23 halftime edge to 41-23 on the strength of six straight points by Thronton in the half's first 2:20. Coppin would inch back within 13-points on a Talmadge Bell fast break lay-up.
The Eagles would get no closer though as XU sprinted out to a 27-9 run over the next 7:20 and took a commanding 58-37 lead. The Xavier run was capped off by six consecutive points once again by Thornton, the last two coming on a dynamic fast break lay-up.
Tywain McKee and Darryl Roberts led the way for Coppin with 14 points each.
The first 10-minutes of the contest was a back-and-forth battle, featuring three ties and four lead changes. Coppin State took its largest lead of the game, 10-6, when Tywain McKee drained a 3-pointer at the 15:10 mark.
The Musketeers would answer quickly though as Finn hit a long-ball just 20-seconds later and XU took the lead for good, 17-14, when Duncan connected from long-range with 9:10 remaining in the first stanza.
Duncan's 3-pointer sparked a 17-6 Musketeer run as XU charged out to a 31-20 lead at 2:40 and cruised to a 35-23 lead at the break.
XU put the clamps down defensively, holding the Eagles to 37 percent (20-of-54) shooting and posted a season-high 10 blocked shots.
XU is back in action when the team travels to Chicago to take on No. 14 Illinois on Saturday, November 3. Game time is set for 2:00 EST at the United Center.
