Musketeers Remain Undefeated at Cintas Center in 84-71 Win Over Wisconsin Green Bay

Wednesday, December 4

Cincinnati, Ohio

7 p.m.

Xavier University

8-1,0-0Big East

Green Bay

3-5,0-0Horizon

Green Bay

Xavier

Musketeers Remain Undefeated at Cintas Center in 84-71 Win Over Wisconsin Green Bay

12.04.19 | Men's Basketball

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Xavier scores 25 second-chance points in second half to pull away from the Phoenix

By: Brandon Eckman, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier men's basketball picked up their eighth win of the season in an 84-71 over Wisconsin Green Bay on Wednesday evening. Five Musketeers scored in double figures, led by Naji Marshall's 24 points in the victory. Tyrique Jones added his fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

FIRST HALF

Xavier opened up the game with a layup made by Tyrique Jones under the basket following an assist from Jason Carter. On the next possession, Paul Scruggs connected on a three-pointer to give the Musketeers an early 5-2 lead.
After Xavier and Green Bay traded made shots, Zach Freemantle connected on a pull-up floater that gave the Musketeers a 15-14 lead with 12:10 remaining in the half.
The Phoenix went on an 11-6 run over a three-minute span and took a 21-17 lead over Xavier with 10:50 remaining in the half. The Musketeers shot just 33 percent from the floor in the first 10 minutes of play.
Naji Marshall tied the game at 24 with 7:30 left to play after connecting on an alley-oop dunk off an in-bounds play underneath Xavier's basket. After a Green Bay score on the other end, Marshall connected on a three-pointer to give the Musketeers a 27-26 lead.
The Musketeers scored five straight points as Marshall connected on a three-point play after being fouled on a driving layup. Paul Scruggs scored on a fast-break layup on the following possession after a Green Bay turnover to give Xavier a 36-30 lead with 3:00 left to play in the half.
Green Bay missed a three-point opportunity as the buzzer went off to end the first half. Xavier held a 38-35 lead going into halftime.
The Musketeers shot 15-of-36, 42 percent, from the floor in the first half and scored eight points off turnovers in the half. Xavier also grabbed four offensive rebounds and connected on four second-chance points.
Marshall led the way in the half for Xavier, scoring 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field. He also brought down three rebounds and dished out two assists.
Scruggs added nine points for the Musketeers on 4-of-7 shooting in 16 minutes of play. KyKy Tandy added five points in eight minutes of play.

SECOND HALF

Xavier began the second half with a corner three-pointer made by Paul Scruggs in the opening possession to give the Musketeers a 41-35 lead. On the next offensive possession, Tyrique Jones grabbed an offensive rebound, allowing Naji Marshall to capitalize on a second-chance layup. This gave Xavier an eight-point lead with 18:40 left to play.
Both teams shot just 30 percent from the floor in the first six minutes of the half. Xavier out rebounded the Phoenix 11-4 during that time.
Marshall connected on his second three-pointer of the game with 13:20 remaining to give Xavier a 51-41 lead. Two possessions later, Marshall drained a turn-around hook shot over a Green Bay defender to give the Musketeers a 53-44 lead.
With 12:00 remaining, KyKy Tandy drained a second-chance three-pointer following an offensive rebound brought down by Dontarius James to make the score 56-44 in favor of the Musketeers.
Following consecutive fouls by Green Bay, the Musketeers connected on 3-of-4 free throw attempts, giving them a 65-50 lead over the Phoenix with 8:40 remaining in the game.
Green Bay went on an 8-2 run to cut Xavier's lead to nine points. Jones then connected on two made free-throws to extend the Musketeer lead to 11. Jones grabbed seven offensive rebounds in the first 14:30 of the second half and drained five free-throws.
Following a media timeout, Quentin Goodin made a three-pointer from the left corner off an assist from Scruggs to give Xavier a 77-63 advantage with 3:30 left to play. Goodin connected on another make from beyond the arc with 1:25 remaining to give the Musketeers an 82-67 lead.
The Musketeers ended the game with two made free-throws by Scruggs. Green Bay followed with a layup on the other end as time expired to make the final score 84-71.
Marshall led the way in scoring in the second half with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting in 18 minutes of play.
Goodin and Jones both added 10 points for the Musketeers in 16 minutes of play. Jones recorded a double-double in the half, grabbing total 11 rebounds, eight of which were offensive rebounds.
Xavier shot 14-of-33, 42 percent, from the floor in the half compared to Green Bay's 34 percent. The Musketeers scored 25 second-chance points in the second half and pulled down 12 offensive rebounds.

NOTABLES

Tyrique Jones recorded his fifth double-double of the season, scoring 14 points and bringing down 14 rebounds in 15 minutes of play. Jones grabbed a season-high eight offensive rebounds, contributing to Xavier's 29 second-chance points.
Naji Marshall scored a game-high 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field in 34 minutes of play. Marshall connected on two three-pointers, grabbed four rebounds, dished out three assists and had one blocked shot.
Paul Scruggs and Quentin Goodin both added 14 points for the Musketeers in the win and contributed four total made three-pointers.
KyKy Tandy scored a career-high 10 points in the contest on 3-of-8 shooting. Tandy also grabbed six boards in 15 minutes.
Xavier has now won 10 games in a row at Cintas Center and is undefeated at home this season.

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 7 as they take on Cincinnati in the annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. from Cintas Center.

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