Naji Marshall Ties Career-High in Scoring in Crosstown Shootout Win Over Cincinnati

Saturday, December 7

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5 p.m.

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Xavier

Naji Marshall Ties Career-High in Scoring in Crosstown Shootout Win Over Cincinnati

12.07.19 | Men's Basketball

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Musketeers improve to 8-1 against Cincinnati at Cintas Center in 73-66 win

By: Brandon Eckman, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier men's basketball defeated Cincinnati, 73-66, on Saturday evening in the annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout. Junior Naji Marshall led the way for the Musketeers, tying his career high in scoring with 31 points. Senior Tyrique Jones added 10 points and nine rebounds for the Musketeers in the 87th meeting between the crosstown rivals.

FIRST HALF

After going scoreless through the first three minutes of play, Xavier got on the board with a made-three pointer from Naji Marshall to tie the game, 3-3, with 16:55 left to play in the half. Two possessions later, Paul Scruggs hit a straight-away three-pointer to give Xavier a 6-5 lead over the Bearcats with 16:05 left to play.
Following the first media timeout, Zach Freemantle checked into the game and scored five straight points for the Musketeers, including a made three-point opportunity after being fouled on a fast break to give Xavier an 11-9 lead.
Cincinnati went on an 8-2 run over the next 3:30, making the score 17-13 in favor of the Bearcats with 10:20 left to play in the half.
With 9:00 left to play, Marshall connected on a pull-up jump shot in the paint to bring the Musketeers within two points. Two possessions later, Xavier took an 18-17 lead when Marshall drained a pull-up three-pointer. Marshall scored 11-straight points for the Musketeers and gave them a 24-20 lead with 5:30 left to play.
Marshall connected on his third three pointer of the game with 3:00 left to play, giving Xavier a 29-24 lead. On the defensive end, Bryce Moore drew an offensive charge and then connected on a three-pointer on the ensuing offensive possession, giving the Musketeers a 32-24 lead.
Cincinnati was fouled on their final shot of the half, giving the Bearcats three free-throws. Jarron Cumberland connected on two of them, making the score 32-29 in favor of Xavier at halftime.
Marshall led the way for the Musketeers in the half, scoring 17 points and shooting 50 percent from the floor. Marshall also grabbed four rebounds and dished out two assists.
Freemantle added seven points for Xavier on 3-of-4 shooting from the field. He also pulled down four rebounds in 16 minutes of play.
Xavier shot 42 percent from the floor in the half and scored nine points off Bearcat turnovers. The Musketeers led by as many as eight points in the half.

SECOND HALF

Xavier began the half with a made hook shot from Tyrique Jones off an inbounds play, giving Jones his first points of the game and Xavier a 34-29 lead.
With 17:10 left to play, Quentin Goodin stole a Bearcat in-bounds pass from Chris McNeal. Goodin passed it up to Naji Marshall, who finished with a fast break one-handed dunk to give the Musketeers a 40-31 lead.
Marshall connected on another three-point field goal with 14:45 left to play, giving Xavier a 45-35 advantage. Two possessions later, Marshall stole the ball from Cincinnati's Jaevin Cumberland, resulting in an alley oop dunk made by Jason Carter on a fast break.
Goodin forced another Bearcat turnover and scored a layup on the other end with 13:00 left to play, giving Xavier a 49-35 lead. Jones then finished a baseline dunk on the next offensive possession and was fouled on the play. He missed his free-throw, making the score 51-35.
Xavier shot 67 percent from the floor in the first 9:00 of the second half and scored eight points off Cincinnati turnovers.
Cincinnati went on a 7-0 run to bring them within nine points. Following a media timeout, Xavier responded with a contested reverse layup made by Scruggs and a dribble-drive dunk by Goodin to give the Musketeers a 55-42 lead.
With 4:30 left to play, Zach Freemantle connected on a floater from the left baseline to give Xavier a 61-48 lead. The teams then traded scored baskets, giving the Musketeers an 11-point lead with 3:15 left in the game.
Cincinnati responded with a 9-4 run over the next 2:30 of play. With 1:13 left to play, Carter drove down the right side of the lane and was fouled. Carter made one free-throw, and Jones grabbed an offensive rebound. Marshall scored the second-chance layup, giving Xavier a 68-57 lead.
After his layup, Marshall forced an immediate Bearcat turnover, and Jones scored off the fast break at the other end. Cincinnati connected on a three-pointer, layup and four free throws as the teams exchanged fouls in the final 0:40. Xavier finished the contest with three more made free-throws, making the final score 73-66 in favor of the Musketeers.
Marshall and Jones both scored in double figures in the second half. Marshall scored 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field, while Jones scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the half.

NOTABLES

Naji Marshall tied his career-high in scoring with 31 points on 12-of-22 shooting from the floor. Marshall connected on four three-pointers, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out three assists.
Marshall's 31 points are the most he has ever scored in a game at Cintas Center.
The Musketeers shot 47 percent from the floor in the contest and scored 21 of their 73 points off Bearcat turnovers.
Tyrique Jones added 10 points and nine rebounds in 23 minutes of play.
Xavier is now 8-1 against Cincinnati at Cintas Center and has won eight straight against the Bearcats at home.
Xavier has now won five of the last seven games against Cincinnati and nine of the last 13 matchups.

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 14 as they take on Wake Forest in the Skip Prosser Classic. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. from Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

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