Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
4-0
Murray State
2-2
Musketeers Race Past Murray State, 89-62
11.24.14 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 24, 2014
Final Stats | Box Score
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CINCINNATI - The Xavier men's basketball team moved to 4-0 on the season after racing past Murray State at Cintas Center on Monday night. Five Musketeers scored in double digits to give the Musketeers the 89-62 win.
The Musketeers opened the game with a 9-0 run, holding Murray State scoreless for the first three minutes. Xavier pushed the lead out to 17, 22-5 at the 13:25 mark. The Racers (2-2) chipped away at the lead, cutting the Musketeer advantage to seven, 26-19, when back-to-back threes from freshman Trevon Bluiett pushed the advantage back out to 13, 32-19. Xavier extended its lead to 22, 52-30, with less than a minute remaining in the first half. A pair of Murray State free throws brought the first half score to 52-32 heading into the locker room.
Bluiett led the Musketeers in the first half with 14 points, shooting 4-of-5 from behind the arc. Senior Matt Stainbrook added 11 for the Musketeers. Junior James Farr grabbed seven first half rebounds, and Dee Davis dished out three first half assists. The Musketeers shot over 60 percent from the floor for the first period.
Murray State opened the second half with back-to-back layups before Bluiett nailed his fifth three point shot of the game to push the lead back out to 19, 55-36, less than two minutes into the second half. The Musketeers maintained its 19-point cushion until the 10 minute mark, when Xavier gradually increased its lead, going ahead by 31, 81-52, with 6:32 remaining in the game. Murray State closed the game on a 4-0 run on back-to-back baskets from Jarvis Williams, but it wasn't enough as Xavier held on for the 27-point win, 89-62.
Bluiett and Stainbrook each finished the night with a team-leading 19 points. Bluiett has scored in double digits in each of his four games as a Musketeer. Stainbrook also grabbed eight rebounds and Dee Davis handed out five assists.
Farr grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds for Xavier and added 10 points to give him one of two Musketeers double-doubles of the evening. Sophomore Jalen Reynolds finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Farr and Reynolds' were the first double-doubles of the season for Xavier, and the first time two Musketeers posted double-doubles in a single game since Nov. 9, 2012 against Fairleigh Dickinson (Dee Davis 22 points, 15 assists; Travis Taylor 20 points, 12 rebounds).
The game also marked the first time since Feb. 23, 2013 against VCU that five Musketeers scored in double digits. Freshman Edmond Sumner made his first career appearance for Xavier, dishing out three assists and grabbing a rebound.
Murray State's Cameron Payne led all scorers with 23 points. Payne also led the Racers with seven rebounds and four assists.
The Musketeers return to action on Thursday in the first of three games in the Wooden Legacy. Xavier will take on San Diego on Thursday, Nov. 27 at 4:30 p.m. ET in Fullerton, Calif., with the game being broadcast on ESPN2.
