Men's Basketball Wins Final Game Before Start Of BIG EAST Play

Tuesday, December 20

Cincinnati, Ohio

6:30 p.m.

Xavier University

10-2

Eastern Washington

8-4

Eastern Washington

Xavier

Men's Basketball Wins Final Game Before Start Of BIG EAST Play

12.20.16 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)Postgame Notes

RaShid Gaston scored his 1,000th career point.

By: Lauren Lamping, Xavier Athletics Communications

CINCINNATI - The Musketeers took on Eastern Washington (8-4) for the first time Tuesday night at Cintas Center. RaShid Gaston reached his 1,000 career point mark and XU defeated EWU 85-56. Five Musketeers scored in double figures and Sumner was the standout player with a career high in assists.

NOTABLES

With four points in the game, Gaston reached the 1,000 career points mark. He now has 1,002 total points.

Trevon Bluiett moved to 31st on the all-time scoring list with 1,148 career points.

Xavier has won 30 straight non-conference wins at Cintas Center. XU has won 13 straight games overall at Cintas Center and 22 of its last 23 games.

Five Xavier players scored in double figures for the second time this season. Bluiett with 16; Edmond Sumner, 14; Kaiser Gates, 12; J.P. Macura, 12; Malcolm Bernard, 10.

Sumner was a crucial player in the win posting 14 points, going 2-3 from the three-point range and nine assists tying his career high. Sumner was one assist shy of reaching his first double-double of the season.

Three Musketeers coming off the bench had career highs. Kaiser Gates with 12 points, Tyrique Jones with nine points and Quentin Goodin with six assists.

This was Xavier's first time playing Eastern Washington University, making the Musketeers 1-0 in the series.
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FIRST HALF

Xavier struggled in the beginning of the first half to find their rhythm, but mid way through, a Sumner steal and fast-break dunk with four minutes to go, followed by a three point basket from Bluiett brought the Musketeers within one.

Xavier trailed by as many as 11 points, but outscored the Eagles 35-8 to end the first half going into halftime leading 46-30.

Big offensive rebound by Jones from Bluiett's missed three pointer to help spark the Xavier comeback.

Xavier shot 53.1 percent from the field with nine points off turnovers and 16 points in the paint. Sumner had an outstanding first half putting up 12 points, three rebounds and six assists.

SECOND HALF

The Musketeers controlled the second half much like part of the first half. The Musketeers did not score their first basket until three minutes into the second half before Malcolm Bernard hit a three point field goal.

XU was shooting bonus free throws five minutes into the half from the fouls Eastern Washington were giving up.

Xavier controlled the boards 36-30, 10 of those being offensive rebounds.

The Eagles would come within 20 points but the Musketeers held them off, maintaining a lead by as much of 29 points.

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