Xavier University
Northern Kentucky (Exhibition)
Men's Basketball Sails Past Northern Kentucky 78-44
11.05.05 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 5, 2005
Box Score
CINCINNATI - Senior center Brian Thornton poured in a game-high 22 points to lead the Xavier men's basketball team to a 78-44 victory over Northern Kentucky in the Musketeers' exhibition opener on Saturday evening at Cintas Center.
Preseason First Team All-Conference pick Stanley Burrell and Preseason All-Rookie Team selection B.J. Raymond joined Thornton in double-figures with 13 points and 10 points respectively.
Burrell also dished-out a game-high six assists on the night.
Thornton was a sizzling 9-of-10 from the floor and made four of his six attempts from the free-throw line.
"I would say tonight the thing we were most pleased with was the inside play of Brian Thornton and Will Caudle," said head coach Sean Miller. "I have said it all along, Brian Thornton has made a tremendous commitment to be a better athlete. I think he is much better defensively because he is in better condition and more fleet of foot."
XU was outstanding offensively, hitting on 57.1 percent (28-of-49) of its attempts from the floor while 21 of the Musketeers' 28 field goals came via the assist.
Xavier was equally as impressive on the defensive end, holding the Norse to 26.3 percent shooting (15-of-57) including an ice-cold 16 percent (4-of-25) from long-range.
The Musketeers put the contest away early, scoring the game's first eight points and jumping out to a 23-6 lead at the first half's 9:50 mark. XU's 8-0 run to start the game was keyed by five points from Thornton including an old-fashioned 3-point play to cap the spurt at the 17:50 mark.
Xavier then charged out to a 10-0 run, extending its lead to 24-points, 37-13, with 3:45 left in the half. Freshman Derrick Brown capped the run with a fast-break dunk.
The Musketeers did not skip a beat in the second half and extended out to a 36-point lead, 77-41, with 1:50 remaining in regulation on a Boubacar Coly put back
Freshman point guard Johnny Wolf earned the start for XU and was solid in his debut. Wolf scored four points, chased down four boards and dished out three assists for the Musketeers.
Junior forward Justin Cage led the way for Xavier with seven rebounds. Senior center Will Caudle hauled in five rebounds to go along with eight points.
Kevin Reinhardt led the way for NKU with 13 points and nine rebounds.
XU will conclude the exhibition portion of its schedule on Saturday, November 12 when the team takes on Tusculum College. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at Cintas Center.
