Musketeers Run Away from Friars in Second Half for Second-Straight Win

Saturday, February 16

Providence, R.I.

2 p.m.

Xavier University

13-13, 5-8

Providence

14-12, 4-9

Xavier

Providence

Musketeers Run Away from Friars in Second Half for Second-Straight Win

02.16.19 | Men's Basketball

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Xavier shoots 73 percent from the floor while limiting Providence to just eight made field goals after halftim.

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - After trailing at the break, Xavier opened the second half at Providence with a 10-0 run to secure its second-straight win on Saturday afternoon. The Musketeers connected on 73 percent on field goals in the second half while limiting PC to 8-of-26 shooting from the floor for the 75-61 win, moving Xavier to 13-13 overall and 5-8 in BIG EAST play.

Tyrique Jones led four Musketeers in double figures with 19 points while shooting over 80 percent from the floor, and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

FIRST HALF

Xavier went ahead 6-3 to open the game, before an 8-0 run for Providence gave the Friars an 11-6 lead with under 14 minutes remaining before halftime.
A Ryan Welage three stopped the run and started an 8-3 scoring outburst for the Musketeers to tie the game, 14-14, with 9:39 remaining in the half.
The teams traded baskets, with Xavier eventually reclaiming the lead, 22-21, on an Elias Harden three pointer with six minute remaining in the half.
PC responded with a 11-1 run to take an eight point lead 32-23 lead with under two minute remaining before the half.
A Tyrique Jones dunk and a free throw for Harden closed out the half with the Xavier deficit at six, 32-26.
Jones led Xavier with nine points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor. Jones also had six rebounds to lead the Musketeers.
Xavier shot 43.5 percent to 40 percent for the Friars, with each team going 2-of-7 from outside. The Musketeers also held an 18-16 advantage on the boards, but nine turnovers, compared to five for the Friars, led to an 11-4 advantage on points off turnovers for the Friars.

SECOND HALF

Xavier opened up the second half with 10 straight points, extending the run from first half to 13-0, to take a 36-32 lead less than three minutes into the second half.
A three pointer for Scruggs pushed Xavier lead to five, with Xavier opening the half 6-of-7 from the floor, including 5-of-5 on two-point field goals.
After trading baskets to maintain a one-to-two possession lead, back to back Musketeer three pointers for Quentin Goodin and Naji Marshall pushed Xavier lead to double digits, 49-38, forcing the Friars to call a time out with 13 minutes remaining.
PC would pull within eight before a 10-3 run for Xavier pushed the lead out to 15, 59-44, with nine minutes to play.
Xavier extending its lead out to as many as 17, 63-46, with under six remaining.
Providence used a late 5-0 run to pull within 11 in the final three minutes, but Xavier closed out the game with a pair of baskets from Goodin and a Paul Scruggs free throw to win, 75-61.
Goodin finished the half with a team-high 12 points.
Jones and Zach Hankins each added 10, with Jones connecting on 5-of-6 field goals and Hankins going 3-of-3 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
Xavier shot 73 percent from the floor, including connecting on 6-of-7 three point shots, while holding PC to 31 percent shooting, with just eight made field goals in the second half.
Xavier owned a 19-8 advantage on the boards, led by six for Jones. Xavier owned a 13-3 advantage on the defensive boards.

NOTABLES

Tyrique Jones led the Musketeers with 19 points, shooting 9-of-11 from the floor.
Naji Marshall added 14 points and Goodin and Hankins each added 13 points.
Xavier shot 59 percent from the floor for the game, including 8-of-14 from behind the arc.
Xavier held a 37-24 advantage on the boards, led by 12 for Jones.
Goodin dished out seven assists, Paul Scruggs had six and Naji Marshall had four as Xavier assisted on 18 of 29 made field goals, including 13 of 19 in the second half.