No. 7 Xavier Holds off Lehigh for Season-Opening Win

Friday, November 11

Cincinnati, Ohio

7 p.m.

Xavier University

1-0

Lehigh

0-1

Team	1	2	F
Lehigh	43	38	81
Xavier	48	36	84

No. 7 Xavier Holds off Lehigh for Season-Opening Win

11.11.16 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)

Trevon Bluiett led the Musketeers with 25 points and 11 boards

By: Laura Topp, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - To open the 2016-17 season, the No. 7 Xavier Musketeers topped the Lehigh Mountain Hawks 84-81 in front of a sold-out crowd, marking the 26th straight win to open the season, including 17 straight at Cintas Center. Five of the Musketeers hit double figures, led by a double-double from Trevon Bluiett, including a career high 25 points and 11 rebounds. Edmond Sumner added a career high 24 points.

The Musketeers opened the game going on a 7-0 run leaving the Mountain Hawks scoreless the first four minutes of play. After Lehigh broke through in the scoring column, Sean O'Mara and Malcolm Bernard combined for five quick points forcing the Mountain Hawks to call a timeout early.

Coming out of the timeout, the Mountain Hawk's full court pressure was no match for Sumner's speed. Sumner worked his way through full court traffic finding J.P. Macura for the open dunk. The following possession, Macura found luck from downtown for a quick five points putting the Musketeers up 25-16 halfway through the first.

Sumner closed the first half muscling his way through the lane for the dunk. Sumner led the Musketeers at half with 15 points and five assists while Bluiett led with six rebounds.

To open the second half, Macura found Sean O'Mara in the paint for a quick dish and basket. Sumner and Bluiett worked in tandem combining for 23 points in the second half.

Lehigh took the lead briefly after a 7-2 run midway through the second half. Xavier responded with five straight points from Bluiett to put the Musketeers on top for good, despite Lehigh outscoring Xavier 38-36 in the second period.

O'Mara matched his career high, putting up 10 points for the Musketeers.

The Musketeers finished the game shooting an impressive 84 percent from the free throw line and outscoring the Mountain Hawks on points in the paint, 44-32. Xavier also went 32-62 from the floor.

Xavier narrowly out rebounded Lehigh 32-27, including 12-10 on the offensive boards, but outscored the Mountain Hawks 20-11 on second chance points.

Lehigh's Tim Kempton matched Bluiett for a game-high of 25 points. The Mountain Hawks' bench outscored Xavier's, 23-7.

Xavier will return to action at home on Monday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m. against Buffalo. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.