Xavier University Athletics

Xavier Takes Down Providence in BIG EAST Home Opener
12.28.16 | Men's Basketball
The Musketeers defeated the Friars by a record margin on Wednesday night
CINCINNATI - Xavier opened up BIG EAST play defeating Providence 82-56, the largest margin of victory in BIG EAST history for the Musketeers. Trevon Bluiett was the key factor, contributing 22 points and nine rebounds. The Musketeers are now 11-2 overall and 1-0 in BIG EAST play.
Xavier defeated Providence 82-56 in the home opener for BIG EAST play.
Xavier has won 14 straight games overall at Cintas Center and 23 of its last 24. XU has won its last seven BIG EAST games at Cintas Center and nine of its last ten.
Bluiett was one rebound short of his sixth career double-double and second on the season.
Xavier defeated Providence by 26, making this the largest win margin in BIG EAST history for the Musketeers against BIG EAST teams.
The win against Providence marks the fourth time in Xavier history since being in the BIG EAST defeating a conference team by 20 or more points.
RaShid Gaston shot a perfect 6-6 from the field, helping the team shoot a 60.4 percent overall.
Tonight marked Bluiett's eighth 20-point-plus scoring game and 12th double figure scoring on the season with 22 points.
Four players scored in double-figures, Edmond Sumner, 13; Bluiett, 22; Gaston, 12; J.P. Macura, 11.
Macura started the half off with a three-pointer, going 1-for-2 on the half.
A dunk by Gaston, assisted by Sumner, fueled the 17-3 run by the Musketeers to give them a 13-point lead.
XU led by as much as 15 in the first half. XU's run halfway through the first half, featuring a fast break alley-oop started by Bluiett to Macura with a big finish by Malcolm Bernard, helped the Musketeers maintain the lead.
Bluiett lead the team with 13 points and seven rebounds with a three pointer to end the half.
The Friars went over nine minutes without scoring a basket, when Kalif Young from Providence ended Xavier's 12-0 streak with a tip in.
Providence cut the lead to single digits, but Xavier held its composure and got the lead back up to 12 to end the half 37-25.
Xavier had 13 points off of Providence turnovers and were dominate force on the boards over the Friars, 20-12.
Threes from Sumner and Bluiett to open the second half helped keep the Xavier momentum going, pushing the Musketeer lead out to 20, 51-31, less than four minutes into the second half.
Xavier went 5-7 from the three-point range just in the first 10 minutes of the half.
Xavier put up 13 points off the bench in the half.
The Musketeers and the Friars went almost basket for basket following Xavier's 9-0 run in the beginning of the half, but XU pulled away stretching the lead out to 30 to end the game.
The Musketeers take on the Hoyas at Georgetown on Dec. 31. The game is set to tip-off at 11 a.m. on FS1.
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NOTABLES |
Xavier defeated Providence 82-56 in the home opener for BIG EAST play.
Xavier has won 14 straight games overall at Cintas Center and 23 of its last 24. XU has won its last seven BIG EAST games at Cintas Center and nine of its last ten.
Bluiett was one rebound short of his sixth career double-double and second on the season.
Xavier defeated Providence by 26, making this the largest win margin in BIG EAST history for the Musketeers against BIG EAST teams.
The win against Providence marks the fourth time in Xavier history since being in the BIG EAST defeating a conference team by 20 or more points.
RaShid Gaston shot a perfect 6-6 from the field, helping the team shoot a 60.4 percent overall.
Tonight marked Bluiett's eighth 20-point-plus scoring game and 12th double figure scoring on the season with 22 points.
Four players scored in double-figures, Edmond Sumner, 13; Bluiett, 22; Gaston, 12; J.P. Macura, 11.
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FIRST HALF |
Macura started the half off with a three-pointer, going 1-for-2 on the half.
A dunk by Gaston, assisted by Sumner, fueled the 17-3 run by the Musketeers to give them a 13-point lead.
XU led by as much as 15 in the first half. XU's run halfway through the first half, featuring a fast break alley-oop started by Bluiett to Macura with a big finish by Malcolm Bernard, helped the Musketeers maintain the lead.
Bluiett lead the team with 13 points and seven rebounds with a three pointer to end the half.
The Friars went over nine minutes without scoring a basket, when Kalif Young from Providence ended Xavier's 12-0 streak with a tip in.
Providence cut the lead to single digits, but Xavier held its composure and got the lead back up to 12 to end the half 37-25.
Xavier had 13 points off of Providence turnovers and were dominate force on the boards over the Friars, 20-12.
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SECOND HALF |
Threes from Sumner and Bluiett to open the second half helped keep the Xavier momentum going, pushing the Musketeer lead out to 20, 51-31, less than four minutes into the second half.
Xavier went 5-7 from the three-point range just in the first 10 minutes of the half.
Xavier put up 13 points off the bench in the half.
The Musketeers and the Friars went almost basket for basket following Xavier's 9-0 run in the beginning of the half, but XU pulled away stretching the lead out to 30 to end the game.
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UP NEXT |
The Musketeers take on the Hoyas at Georgetown on Dec. 31. The game is set to tip-off at 11 a.m. on FS1.
Team Stats
PC
XU
FG%
.388
.604
3FG%
.357
.400
FT%
.765
.667
RB
20
38
TO
12
14
STL
8
9
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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