Musketeers Unable to Overcome Late Run by DePaul

Saturday, February 9

Cincinnati, Ohio

8 p.m.

Xavier University

11-13, 3-8BE

DePaul

13-9, 5-6BE

DePaul

Xavier

Musketeers Unable to Overcome Late Run by DePaul

02.09.19 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Season Stats (PDF)Photos Postgame Notes De Paul at Xavier Box Score (PDF)

Naji Marshall led the Musketeers with 22 points

By: Patrick Knapinski, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier dropped its sixth straight contest on Saturday night, moving to 11-13 overall and 3-8 in the BIG EAST. Naji Marshall had a game-high 22 points, his 16th double-figure scoring game of the season, to go along with four rebounds and four assists.

Paul Scruggs scored 13 points for his team-high 18th double-figure scoring game while Quentin Goodin contributed 12 points.

FIRST HALF

Both teams started off cold from the field, making 4-of-27 field goals combined before the 11:47 mark in the first half.
XU took a lead into halftime, 31-30, behind Naji Marshall's game-high 16 points, three rebounds and three assists.
Marshall's 16 points is the second most in any half by a Musketeers this season; Hankins had 18 against Seton Hall on 1/2/19 and Welage had 21 versus IUPUI on 11/6/18.
Tyrique Jones and Naji Marshall combined to score XU's last 12 points of the half to secure the lead going into the break.
Xavier trailed in bench points, 10-0, second chance points, 11-0, and points in the paint, 22-16 at the half.
The Blue Demons led 26-22 on the boards. Jones led Xavier with seven rebounds in the first half.

SECOND HALF

Xavier maintained a lead until DePaul utilized a 6-0 run over 1:37 to come within two points of Xavier at the 8:49 mark.
A two-minute scoring drought for the Musketeers allowed the Blue Demons to tie the game at 57 with 3:36 remaining. Xavier had led from the 17:52 mark until this point.
The Musketeers turned the ball over six times through the last eight minutes. The Blue Demons finished the half with 11 points off turnovers.
Over the same stretch, DePaul used a 16-2 run to take an eight point lead, 64-57 at 1:22 remaining
DePaul ended the game on a 21-5 run from the 4:05 mark, taking the lead 58-57 with 3:17 left and never trailing after.
Paul Scruggs led Xavier with 10 points in the second half on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor.
Quentin Goodin added nine points, going 7-of-8 from the free throw line.
DePaul shot 60 percent from the field in the second half versus Xavier's 43.5 percent.
DePaul won the battle of the boards, 14-10, with Zach Hankins leading the Musketeers with three.

NOTABLES

XU had three scorers in double figures: Naji Marshall (17), Paul Scruggs (13), and Quentin Goodin (12).
This was Paul Scruggs' 18th and Naji Marshall's 16th double-figure scoring game of the season.
Tyrique Jones led the Musketeers with nine rebounds, as Xavier was out-rebounded 40-32.
DePaul owned a 14-8 advantage on the offensive glass, leading to an 18-2 advantage on second-chance points.
DePaul snapped a nine-game winning streak for Xavier against the Blue Demon. This is Xavier's first loss at Cintas Center versus the Blue Demons.