Xavier Falls After Second-Half Comeback for Providence

Wednesday, February 15

Providence, R.I.

6:30 p.m.

Xavier University

18-8, 8-5

Providence

16-11, 6-8

Xavier

Providence College

Xavier Falls After Second-Half Comeback for Providence

02.15.17 | Men's Basketball

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

RaShid Gaston posts second-straight double-double

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A double-double for RaShid Gaston helped the Musketeers take an early lead, but the Providence Friars took control in the second half, topping Xavier 75-63.

The Musketeers, playing without junior guard Trevon Bluiett, had two finish in double-figures as Xavier moved to 18-8 overall and 8-5 in conference play.

NOTABLE

Coming off a career-high 23 points, Gaston finished with team-highs of 19 points and 14 boards for a second-straight double-double, his sixth of the season.

Gaston hit on 8-of-10 from the floor. The Musketeers finished shooting 43.1 percent from the field.

J.P. Macura finished with 17 points.

Xavier won the battle of the boards, 44-29, led by Gaston's 14. XU had a 19-10 advantage on the offensive glass, but matched the Friars with 14 second chance points for each team.

After Xavier owned a decided advantage on points in the paint in the first half at 24 to 10, the Musketeers and Friars each finished with 36 points in the paint.

Bluiett did not play, marking the first game for the Musketeers in which Bluiett did not participate since coming to Xavier in 2014. Bluiett is listed as day-to-day with an ankle injury.

GASTON LEADS IN THE FIRST HALF

After falling behind 6-2 early, the Musketeers put together a 12-0 run, fueled by Xavier's big men, including six points for Gaston.

Gaston finished the first half with a team-high 12 points as the Musketeers pushed the lead out to as many as 10 in the first 20 minutes. Xavier owned a decided advantage in the paint, outscoring PC 24-10 down low in the first half.

The Friars closed the half on a 5-0 run, cutting the lead to two, 31-29, at the break on a put-back tip-in at the buzzer.

The Musketeers hit over 46 percent from the floor, including 5-of-7 for Gaston, missing on all four looks from beyond the arc before halftime.

Xavier owned a 24-16 advantage on the boards, led by seven for Gaston in the first half.

PC TAKES CONTROL IN SECOND

Early in the second half, Providence took its first lead since the opening minutes of the game, going ahead 39-36 lead less than five minutes into the second half.

After trading possessions, nine straight made field goals built the PC lead out to multiple possessions.

The Friars continued to build its lead shooting 64.5 percent from the floor in the second half, going ahead by as many as 18 before the final set at 75-63.

Xavier had nine second half turnovers which the Friars turned into 12 points, to just two points off miscues for the Musketeers.

Macura had nine second-half points to lead XU and Gaston added seven.

Xavier grabbed 20 rebounds to 14 for the Friars, with Gaston grabbing seven for the Musketeers.

UP NEXT

Xavier remains on the road for the second of three-straight road games, heading to Marquette on Saturday, February 18. The Musketeers and Golden Eagles are set to tip-off at 8:00 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.