Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Dayton
Musketeers' Winning Streak Snapped By Dayton, 87-72
01.21.12 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 21, 2012
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| Postgame Press Conference
DAYTON, Ohio - Guards Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons combined to score 41 points for the Xavier men's basketball team that lost on the road to Dayton, 87-72, at UD Arena that snapped a four-game winning streak.
The loss is the Musketeers' first set back in over two weeks and gives them a 13-6 overall mark, and 4-2 record in the Atlantic 10. The Flyers improve to 14-5 overall and 4-1 in the conference.
Lyons and Holloway combined to tally 41 points in the loss for the Musketeers. They shot 14-of-30 percent from the floor on the day and hit five of Xavier's 3-pointers on the day. Holloway scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half, while Lyons evenly distributed his 20 points over both periods.
Trailing by 13 points at halftime, Xavier and was able to cut it down to as close as 11 after back-to-back 3-pointers from Lyons and Holloway with just under 10 minutes left to play. Unfortunately the Musketeers could reduce the score to single digits and would pull within 11 just once more in the contest on freshman Dezmine Wells' dunk.
In the 156th meeting between the two clubs Xavier shot the ball decently, hitting 46.4 percent (26-of-56) of its total shots in the game and 8-of-14 (57.1 percent) from long range. Dayton shot 50 percent (27-of-54) and hit 11-of-28 (39.3 percent) of its 3-pointers and also held the rebound advantage, 40-28. Free-throw shooting also troubled the Musketeers who went 12-of-24 from the stripe.
Xavier trailed nearly the entire first half but managed to keep the game close and were able to cut the Flyers' lead to a single possession four different times during the half. Holloway's 3-pointer with under 10 minutes remaining made it a 26-23 deficit for the Musketeers. Dayton followed it with a trey of its own to regain the lead. The Flyers would outscore the Musketeers, 20-10, after Holloway's trey.
Lyons was the leading scorer at the break for the Musketeers with nine points. He was 4-of-8 shooting from the floor during the half.
Xavier got off to a slow start in the first half making just one of its first eight shots. That was a trey from the in front of the Dayton bench by Wells. Lyons ended the cold streak with an 18-foot jumper from the top of the key.
The Musketeers finished the half shooting 40.0 percent (12-of-30) from the floor and hitting four of seven (57.1 percent) 3-pointers. Dayton had a strong shooting half as well, hitting 53.1 percent (17-of-32) of its shot, which include 6-of-14 long-range jumpers. The Flyers held the rebounding edge 23-17 in the period.
Kevin Dillard from Dayton was named the Blackburn/McCafferty MVP after his 16-point performance for the Flyers. Kavanaugh led the club with 20 points and Paul Williams had 13.
Xavier returns home for a Wednesday night showdown with Saint Louis. That game begins at 7 p.m. in Cintas Center and can be seen live on Fox Sports Ohio in the local viewing area.
