Xavier University Athletics
Paul Scruggs Posts Career High 30 Points in Loss at Wake Forest
12.14.19 | Men's Basketball
Three Musketeers scored in double figures in first game of Skip Prosser Classic.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. --- No. 23 Xavier drops road game at Wake Forest on Saturday afternoon, 80-78, in the Skip Prosser Classic. Paul Scruggs earned a career-high 30 points, leading all scorers. Naji Marshall posted 16 points for the Musketeers and grabbed five defensive boards. Tyrique Jones also scored in double figures with 12 points.
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Men's Basketball at Wake Forest by Xavier Musketeers on Exposure
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 FIRST HALF |
- Naji Marshall scored Xavier's first bucket of the game with a quick turnaround jumper after two minutes of play. Jason Carter followed up with a driving layup to put the Musketeers up 4-3.
- Wake Forest responded with a 7-2 run, 12-6 Demon Deacons. Paul Scruggs and Jason Carter tied the game at 12 at the 13:34 minute mark.Â
- Quentin Goodin drained a three right before Naji Marshall's hook shot on the Fastbreak to put Xavier up 17-14 into the under 12 media.
- Over a two-minute period, Paul Scruggs tallied seven points to put Xavier at a one-point advantage, 26-25 with less than six minutes remaining in the first.Â
- Wake Forest held Xavier scoreless for about three minutes, until Dahmir Bishop earned a driving layup with 2:37 to play.Â
- Quentin Goodin connected on two free throws to bring Xavier's deficit to two points, 30-32.
- The Demon Deacons closed the half on a 7-0 run.Â
- After eight lead changes, Wake Forest led at the break, 30-39.Â
- Paul Scruggs led the way the break for Xavier with 14 points, shooting 6-10 from the field, and one block. Â
- Tyrique Jones grabbed four boards in three minutes of action in the first.Â
- Jason Carter also grabbed four rebounds and earned five points with one steal.Â
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 SECOND HALF |
- Jason Carter broke Xavier's scoring drought at the 17:55 in the second, 32-41 Wake Forest.Â
- A Paul Scruggs second-chance layup, off Marshall's missed free throw brought the Musketeer deficit to eight.Â
- Quentin Goodin dove on the floor for a loose ball steal, finding Naji Marshall for a driving layup, 39-45 Wake Forest into the first media of the half. Marshall added one free throw after a flagrant one foul was issued to the Demon Deacons. Â
- After a defensive rebound. Paul Scruggs took it coast-to-coast for a layup to bring Xavier within three. Xavier opened the half on a 16-7 run.Â
- Tyrique Jones found a spark in the second half, with nine points going 7-8 from the free throw line to bring Xavier within seven at the 4:40 mark, 62-69.Â
- Quentin Goodin with the drive and kick to Naji Marshall for a deep three, to bring the Musketeers within three to be a part of 13-3 Xavier run, 66-69 Wake Forest.
- Quentin Goodin with both assists for back-to-back three pointers from Paul Scruggs brings Xavier within one with a little over a minute remaining, 72-73. Goodin finished the night with five assists.Â
- Xavier fell 78-80 when Wake Forest's Brandon Childress sealed the game with a free throw with seven seconds remaining.Â
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 NOTEABLES |
- Paul Scruggs had a career high in points at 30, shooting 13-19 from the field, finishing with five points, one block and one steal.Â
- Tyrique Jones contributed 12 points, shooting 8-12 from the line while grabbing 11 boards, his sixth double-double of the season.
- Naji Marshall scored in double figures with 16 points, five defensive rebounds and one assist.
- Jason Carter finished the game with eight points, four rebounds and two blocks.Â
- Xavier outscored Wake Forest in the paint, 36-32. The Musketeers dominated on the offensive glass with 12 compared to Wake Forest's six.Â
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 UP NEXT |
- The Musketeers return to Cintas Center on Wednesday, December 18 at 6:30 PM taking on Western Carolina in the second game of the Skip Prosser Classic. The game will be broadcast on FS1.Â
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 PHOTOS |
Men's Basketball at Wake Forest by Xavier Musketeers on Exposure
Team Stats
XU
Wake
FG%
.403
.473
3FG%
.273
.438
FT%
.667
.778
RB
38
36
TO
8
13
STL
4
6
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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