Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
12-7, 3-4
Providence
15-5, 5-2
Men's Basketball Falls, 69-66, In Overtime at Providence
01.22.15 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 22, 2015
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Xavier men's basketball team came up just short of its first road win in BIG EAST play, falling 69-66 in overtime at Providence on Thursday. After trailing by double digits for much of the second half, the Musketeers (12-7; 3-4 BIG EAST) scored nine unanswered in the final two minutes of regulation to force the game into overtime. Jalen Reynolds and Matt Stainbrook each finished with a double-double after being limited by foul trouble in the first half.
Stainbrook hit the first basket of the night before the Friars (15-5; 5-2 BIG EAST) scored five straight to take a 5-2 lead to open the game. Myles Davis, making his first start of the season, stopped the Providence run and the Musketeers battled to an 11-9 lead, led by four points from Stainbrook.
After the Musketeers took the lead, a 7-0 run by the Friars put the Musketeers down, 16-11, with under nine minutes remaining in the half. Xavier cut the lead down to three but five straight points by PC's LaDontae Henton gave the Friars a 21-13 lead at the 7:21 mark.
Xavier's inside scoring led the way to open the game, with 18 points in the paint in the first half while not hitting an outside shot before the break. The Musketeers' attack under the basket stalled when Stainbrook went to the bench with two foul with just over six minutes remaining in the half, joining Reynolds who had picked up a second foul earlier in the half.
From that point the Musketeers would get as close as six, 25-19, with less than five minutes remaining, but Providence maintained at least a two-possession lead for the rest of the first half. The Friars took its largest lead of the half, 32-20, into the locker room.
Stainbrook went into halftime with six points, five rebounds and three assists. James Farr added five points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds. The Musketeers were outrebounded, 23-15, in the first half, including giving up nine second-chance points on eight offensive rebounds. The Musketeers and Friars each turned the ball over five times in the first half, but the Friars owned an 8-1 advantage on points off turnovers.
The Friars maintained a double digit lead for the first 10 minutes of second half, leading by as many as 14 after the break. The Musketeers continued to struggle from outside, missing its first 11 three-point shots, but found success in the paint to draw within 10.
After cutting the lead to 45-35 with less than 10 minutes remaining, a J.P. Macura free throw cut the lead to single digits for the first time in the second half. A three-point play for Reynolds after a steal by Macura capped a 7-0 run by the Musketeers cutting the Friars' lead to six, 45-39, with 8:51 left in the game.
Providence used free throws and outside shooting to push back out to a comfortable lead, taking a nine point advantage into the final three minutes when Myles Davis' second three-pointer of the evening cut the lead to six.
Reynolds cut the lead to four, 60-56, with 1:18 left in the second half and then a steal for Reynolds on the next possession led to a breakaway dunk, cutting the lead to two.
With less than 30 seconds remaining, Myles Davis turned another steal into a game tying layup. The Friars had a final look, but missed a three at the buzzer to end regulation tied, 60-60. The Musketeers put together a 9-0 run in the final 1:41 of the second half to force overtime.
Both teams struggled to score to open the overtime period, the first basket coming from the Friars at the 2:42 mark. Xavier tied the game at 62 less than 20 seconds later and a Macura layup gave the Musketeers the 64-62 lead with 1:24 remaining in overtime, Xavier's first lead since leading 11-9 with 11:32 left in the first half.
The Friars' Henton answered with a personal 5-0 run to give Providence the 67-64 lead in the final minute of the overtime period. After a Providence free throw pushed the lead out to four, Dee Davis hit a floater to cut the lead to two, 68-66, with five seconds remaining in overtime.
A make and a miss from the free throw line for Providence gave the Musketeers the ball and a chance to tie the game from three with four seconds remaining, but Xavier was unable to get a shot off, giving Providence the 69-66 win.
Stainbrook led the Musketeers with 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Stainbrook also matched Dee Davis for team-high with four assists. Myles Davis hit two late three pointers to help tie up the game, finishing with 16 points.
After scoring only two points in the first half, Reynolds finished with 14 points, hitting 4-of-5 from the floor in the second half. Reynolds also grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.
Providence's Henton led all scorers with 24 points, and Kris Dunn added 20 for the Friars. Both grabbed 10 rebounds each to finish with a double-double.
After being outrebounded in the first half, the Musketeers owned the 25-21 advantage on the boards after halftime. Xavier outscored Providence 40-24 in the paint, but hit only 2-of-16 on outside shots.
Both teams finished with 11 turnovers, including three critical miscues for the Friars in final minutes of regulation to help the Musketeers force overtime, but the Friars finished with a 15-11 advantage in points off turnovers.
The Musketeers have a short turnaround before hosting DePaul on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 12:00 noon at Cintas Center. The game will be televised on FOX Sports 1 and a radio broadcast will be available from 700 WLW. More information will be available from GoXavier.com.
