Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
24-3, 12-3
Georgetown University
14-14, 7-8
Sumner's Career High Leads Musketeers to Win at Georgetown
02.20.16 | Men's Basketball
Musketeers shot nearly 80 percent from the floor in the second half
WASHINGTON – A career day for Edmond Sumner led No. 8/7 Xavier men's basketball to an 88-70 win at Georgetown on Saturday, avenging a January home loss against the Hoyas. The Musketeers shot over 80 percent from the floor for the second half as they moved to 24-3 on the season and 12-3 in BIG EAST play.
Sumner finished with 22 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor and was a perfect 9-of-9 from the foul line. His game-high performance topped his previous career high of 21, which he set earlier this season at Wake Forest.
Three other Musketeers finished in double-digits as Xavier avenged the 81-72 loss at Cintas Center earlier this season. James Farr scored 14 points and Trevon Bluiett added 13 as each grabbed a team-high five boards. J.P. Macura added nine on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor.
Nine early points for Sumner led the Musketeers as they took a 19-12 lead less than 10 minutes into the game.
Macura opened the game hitting 3-of-3 for six points while the Musketeers held the Hoyas scoreless for over six minutes to extend the lead out to 11, 27-16, with just over six minutes remaining before the break.
Xavier held on to the 11-point lead until a 12-2 run for the Hoyas cut the Musketeer lead to one, 31-30, with just under two minutes remaining.
A Farr bucket ended the Hoya run, but GU's D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera hit a three to tie the game, 33-33, with 1:16 remaining before the half.
Farr hit a pair of free throws, going 6-of-6 from the line in the first half, to put XU back ahead with under a minute remaining in the half, sending the teams into halftime with the Musketeers leading, 35-33.
Sumner had a game-high 13 points in the first half. Farr added eight points and grabbed a team-high three boards as the Musketeers were edged, 19-15, in rebounding for the first half.
The Musketeers forced eight first half miscues, while committing just one, to outscore the Hoyas 11 to three on points off turnovers for the first 20 minutes.
Five quick points for both Sumner and Bluiett fueled a 13-0 run for the Musketeers to open the second half, giving the Musketeers a 15-point lead, 48-33, less than four minutes into the period.
GU hit back-to-back threes to cut the lead back to nine, 48-39, less than a minute later.
The Musketeers responded with an 8-2 run to push out to a 56-41 lead with 12 minutes to play.
Xavier's lead would extend to as many 21, 78-57, on 77.3 percent shooting from the floor for the second half before winning by a final margin of 18, 88-72.
Xavier dominated the paint in the second half, out-scoring the Hoyas 24-6 down low and hitting on 15-of-16 two-point field goals in the second period.
Xavier also grabbed 18 boards to just 11 for the Hoyas to own a 33-30 advantage on rebounds for the game.
Xavier returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 24 when the Musketeers host No. 1 Villanova at Cintas Center. Tip against the Wildcats is set for 7:00 p.m. on FOX Sports 1.
POSTGAME
