Musketeers Crash Offensive Boards, Pull Away from No. 24 Michigan

Friday, November 20

Ann Arbor, Mich.

9 P.M.

Xavier University

3-0

University of Michigan

2-1

Xavier

Michigan

Musketeers Crash Offensive Boards, Pull Away from No. 24 Michigan

11.20.15 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Four Musketeers hit double figures as Xavier secured a convincing win against No. 24 Michigan to move to 3-0 on the season, topping the Wolverines 86-70 at the Crisler Center on Friday evening.

Jalen Reynolds, Trevon Bluiett and Remy Abell each finished with 15 points and Myles Davis added 14 for the Musketeers. James Farr grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Musketeers as they out-rebounded the Wolverines, 47-29, including grabbing 18 off the offensive glass, the most offensive rebounds in a game since the Musketeers grabbed 27 against Murray State on Nov. 24, 2014.

The Musketeers turned the 18 offensive boards into 16 second chance points to just five for Michigan as Xavier turned a nine point halftime lead into a 16-point win.

Xavier opened on a 4-0 run from Reynolds, and a three pointer from Davis gave the Musketeers a seven point lead before the Wolverines broke into the scoring column. Michigan answered, tying the game up at 10 with 12 minutes left to play.

The Wolverines took the lead for the first time with 8:11 left in the first half, taking the 20-18 advantage. Six unanswered from Abell gave the Musketeers the 24-18 lead. The teams traded one-possession leads until the final four minutes of the game.

A J.P. Macura three pointer put the Musketeers ahead, 35-32, contributing to a 10-2 run to give the Musketeers control of the game headed towards halftime. Three free throws from Myles Davis in the closing seconds of the half gave Xavier the 45-36 lead at the half.

Reynolds led the Musketeers with 13 points and five rebounds in the first half. Abell scored 10 for the Musketeers in the first half, and Davis added eight.

The Wolverines chipped away at the lead, climbing to within two, 61-59, with 10 minutes to play. Xavier responded with a Macura three and dunk from Reynolds to retake control of the game, 66-59.

Xavier maintained a two possession lead before using a 9-0 to push out to 13, 75-62, with just under six minute remaining. The Musketeers increased the lead to as many as 16, ending the game with an 86-70 win.

Xavier outscored the Wolverines 34-14 in the paint and converted 88.5 percent of free throws (23-of-26).

Michigan's Caris LeVert led all scorers with 29 points.

The win drew the BIG EAST into a four-win tie with the Big 10 in the inaugural Gavitt Tipoff Games, with Providence, St. John's and Georgetown also picking up wins over Big 10 opponents.

The Musketeers will host NKU on Monday, Nov. 23 at 8:30 p.m. at Cintas Center, before preparing for the eight-team AdvoCare Invitational held from Nov. 26-29 in Orlando, Fla. Xavier opens play against Alabama on Thursday, Nov. 26 at noon on ESPN2.