Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Gonzaga
Musketeers Fall To Gonzaga, 64-54, Wednesday Night
12.23.10 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 23, 2010
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Rebounds and free throws were the difference as the Xavier men's basketball team suffered its third loss of the season, 64-54, at Gonzaga Wednesday night in front of a packed house at the McCarthey Athletic Center.
Xavier (7-3, 0-0 A-10) was led by Tu Holloway with a 26 points on 6-of-16 from the field and 13-of-14 from the free throw line. Holloway was the only Musketeer in double figures with Danté Jackson just shy with nine points on 3-of-10 from behind the arch.
Gonzaga (7-5, 0-0) was led by Robert Sacre with 22 points on 6-of-14 from the field. Elias Harris led all players with 11 rebounds. Overall, Gonzaga won the battle of the boards with 38 rebounds to Xavier's 23. The Bulldogs hit a solid 88.2 percent of their free throws to Xavier's 72 percent.
The Musketeers cut the Bulldog lead to one, 34-33, with a 10-0 run to start the second half. The early scoring spurt began with 18:44 left in the game with a Jackson 3-pointer and ended with another trey by Jackson at the 16:34 mark.
Xavier took the lead, 37-36, for the first time since the 15:54 mark in the first half when Mark Lyons took advantage of a Jeff Robinson steal and hit a layup with 14:35 left in the game.
Gonzaga answered with an 11-2 run of its own to take a 49-40 lead with just over nine minutes left to play.
The Musketeers mounted a 5-0 run at the 8:34 mark with a drive and finger roll by Lyons and another Jackson 3-pointer from the corner that cut the GU lead to 49-45. GU managed to hold on though thanks to solid free throw shooting down the stretch.
Gonzaga led 34-23 at halftime thanks in large part to 14 points in the paint. Holloway led all scorers in the first half with 16 points on 3-of-6 from the field and 9-of-10 from the free throw line.
XU took a 4-1 lead with 17:28 left in the first half on two free throws by Holloway. The Bulldogs rebounded and took a 12-4 lead but a 7-0 run, capped by a Holloway jumper at the 11:53 mark, pulled the Musketeers within one.
Gonzaga would not be denied however, as the Bulldogs pulled away late in the half and took an 11-point lead into the locker room.
Xavier will return to action Tuesday, December 28 as the Musketeers welcome Albany to Cintas Center. Tip time is set for 7 p.m.
