No. 16/15 Xavier Moves to 3-0 in BIG EAST Play with Win Over St. John's

Saturday, January 7

Cincinnati, Ohio

2:30 p.m.

Xavier University

13-2,3-0BIGEAST

St. John's

8-9, 2-2BIGEAST

St. John's

Xavier

No. 16/15 Xavier Moves to 3-0 in BIG EAST Play with Win Over St. John's

01.07.17 | Men's Basketball

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

Edmond Sumner led the Musketeers with 20 points

By: Isabel Roberts-Hamilton, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - The No. 16/15 Xavier Musketeers beat the St. John's Red Storm in dominating fashion, winning 97-82 at Cintas Center on Saturday afternoon. Edmond Sumner led the team with 20 points. With this win, Xavier improves to 13-2 overall and 3-0 in BIG EAST play, making them the only unbeaten team left in BIG EAST Conference play.

NOTABLE

Xavier has won 15 straight games at the Cintas Center and 24 of the last 25 at home.

Edmond Sumner led the Musketeers once again, going 8-12 from the field, assisting on seven shots, and collecting five rebounds.

Kaiser Gates had a career high with 17 points. He emerged in the second half and went 6-8 from the field in which he hit 4-6 from behind the arc.

Tyrique Jones also contributed a career-high 10 points off of the bench.

The Musketeers' defensive pressure was too much for the Red Storm at times, forcing 10 turnovers and recording 23 points off of turnovers.

Xavier outscored St. John's 36-13 off the bench.

The Musketeers shot 58.6 percent from the field and 47.6 percent from behind the arc, while holding St. John's to 40.6 percent from the field and 37 percent from behind the arc.

RED STORM MAKE EARLY RUN

Xavier jumped out to an early lead, but the Red Storm came back with a 13-0 run and to take a nine point lead, leading 18-9 at the 13 minute mark.

Xavier countered with a 21-3 run, regaining the lead at the eight minute mark.

Xavier ended the half on top 54-39, with a large part of their points coming from 3-point field goals. The Musketeers shot 53.3 percent from the 3-point line and 59.4 percent from the field.

Edmond Sumner led the way with a team-high 14 points, while Trevon Bluiett followed close behind with 13 points. The Red Storm had 17 rebounds while the Musketeers had 18, led by five from Bluiett.

The first half featured 24 total fouls, leaving two Xavier starters, J.P. Macura and RaShid Gaston, on the bench for most of the first half

XAVIER PULLS AWAY IN SECOND

Xavier opened the half with a three from Kaiser Gates and a dunk by Rashid Gaston, but the Red Storm came out shooting hot as well, leaving the score 61-46 at the 16 minute mark.

The Musketeers went on a 14-4 run, prompting St. John's to call a timeout at the 11 minute mark after a monstrous dunk by Tyrique Jones, and then a fast break dunk by Macura.

The Red Storm outscored the Musketeers 32-21 the last 11 minutes, but the Musketeers won with a final score of 97-82. Xavier's dominance showed throughout the second half as they maintained a double-digit lead the entire half.

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