Macura Sets Career High as No. 11 Xavier Advances to Tire Pros Invite Championship

Friday, November 18

Orlando, Fla.

1:30 p.m.

Xavier University

3-0

Clemson

3-1

Clemson

Xavier

Macura Sets Career High as No. 11 Xavier Advances to Tire Pros Invite Championship

11.18.16 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)

Musketeers face off with winners of Northern Iowa vs Oklahoma on Sunday at 7:30 PM

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - A career day for J.P. Macura led the Musketeers to a win over Clemson on Friday, moving No. 11 Xavier to 4-0 on the season and earning the Musketeers a spot in the Tire Pros Invitational championship game on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Xavier will play the winner of the Northern Iowa vs. Oklahoma game to be played on Friday evening.

Macura finished with 28 total points, hitting 56 percent from the floor, including 6-of-11 from outside and continued his perfect streak from the line, moving to 20-20 on the season. The junior guard accounted for nine points of a 12-0 Xavier run to go ahead for good in the first 10 minutes of the game.

Macura was one of four Musketeers to hit double figures, with Trevon Bluiett finishing with 21 after leading the Musketeers in scoring in the second half. Edmond Sumner finished with 11 points, six rebounds and six assists. Sean O'Mara finished with 10, going a 4-of-4 from the floor and hit both of his free throw attempts on the day.

The first four minutes was a back-and-forth battle, with Clemson taking a 10-7 lead at the 16-minute mark. Xavier responded 12 unanswered on four straight three pointers, including three outside shots for J.P. Macura to take the lead. Macura had 14 of Xavier's 19 points as the Musketeers jumped out to a 19-10 advantage eight minutes into the game.

The Tigers would get as close as four in the first half, but another 7-3 run for Xavier, with Macura's hot-hand scoring all seven for the Musketeers, put Xavier back in front comfortably.

Macura hit 21 points with just under four minutes remaining in the first half, breaking his previous career high of 20 in less than one half of play.

Xavier extended the lead to as many as 12 on a Trevon Bluiett three, making the Musketeers 8-of-13 from outside on the first half after only hitting a pair of outside shots against Mizzou on Thursday. The Tigers hit an outside shot to close the half to set the score at 41-32 at the break.

Macura finished with 23 for the first half, hitting 75 percent from the floor, including 5-of-6 from outside.

Xavier and Clemson each grabbed 16 first half rebounds. Malcolm Bernard led XU with five boards.

The Musketeers maintained a multiple-possession lead, going up by as many as 11 in the second half before Clemson put together an 8-0 run to cut the lead to three, 63-60, with under seven minutes remaining.

With the game as close as it had been since the opening five minutes, Xavier responded with six unanswered points over the next minute and a half, pushing the lead back out to nine, 69-60.

In the final minute, Clemson would cut the lead down to four but the Musketeers hit five free throws in the final 30 seconds of the game to seal the 83-77 win.

Trevon Bluiett finished with 13 points in the second half, including hitting on 7-of-9 free throws in the final 20 minutes.

Xavier won the battle of the boards, 37-31, led by Bernard's seven rebounds. The graduate transfer also had nine points in a solid effort for the Musketeers.

Xavier advances to the championship game, marking the second-straight year the Musketeers will compete for an early season tournament championship after winning the AdvoCare Invitational at the same facility last year. Xavier is set to take on the winner of the semi-final game between Northern Iowa and Oklahoma, set to tip off at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN U on Friday evening.

The championship game, which is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, following a consolation round game set to begin at 5:00 p.m. The championship game will be available on ESPN 2 and 700 WLW.