Paul Scruggs Posts Career High 30 Points in Loss at Wake Forest

Saturday, December 14

Winston-Salem, N.C.

4 p.m.

Xavier University

Wake Forest

Paul Scruggs Posts Career High 30 Points in Loss at Wake Forest

12.14.19 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Season Stats Box Score Photos

Three Musketeers scored in double figures in first game of Skip Prosser Classic.

By: Laura Topp, Xavier Athletic Communications

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.

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.
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.
Wake Forest held Xavier scoreless for about three minutes, until Dahmir Bishop earned a driving layup with 2:37 to play.
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.
After eight lead changes, Wake Forest led at the break, 30-39.
Paul Scruggs led the way the break for Xavier with 14 points, shooting 6-10 from the field, and one block.
Tyrique Jones grabbed four boards in three minutes of action in the first.
Jason Carter also grabbed four rebounds and earned five points with one steal.

SECOND HALF

Jason Carter broke Xavier's scoring drought at the 17:55 in the second, 32-41 Wake Forest.
A Paul Scruggs second-chance layup, off Marshall's missed free throw brought the Musketeer deficit to eight.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Xavier fell 78-80 when Wake Forest's Brandon Childress sealed the game with a free throw with seven seconds remaining.

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.
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.
Xavier outscored Wake Forest in the paint, 36-32. The Musketeers dominated on the offensive glass with 12 compared to Wake Forest's six.

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.

PHOTOS

Men's Basketball at Wake Forest by Xavier Musketeers on Exposure