Xavier Knocks Down a School Record 19 Three Pointers; Musketeers Top Sooners, 99-77

Wednesday, December 9

Cincinnati, Ohio

8 p.m.

Xavier University

7-0,0-0Big East

Oklahoma

2-1,1-0Big 12

Oklahoma

Xavier

Xavier Knocks Down a School Record 19 Three Pointers; Musketeers Top Sooners, 99-77

12.09.20 | Men's Basketball

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Sophomore Zach Freemantle scored a career-high 28 points on Wednesday night

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier knocked down a school record 19 three pointers on Wednesday night, defeating Oklahoma, 99-77, in the BIG EAST-Big 12 Challenge at Cintas Center. The Musketeers moved to 7-0 on the year, while the Sooners moved to 2-1.

FIRST HALF

• The opening 15 minutes of the half was back-and-forth as it featured 11 lead changes and eight ties. Tied 32-32 with 5:32 on the clock, Xavier went on a 14-5 run on 6-for-8 shooting - taking its largest lead (double check) of the game, 48-37.

• Austin Reaves hit a jumper with 28 seconds on the clock to make the halftime score, 48-39.

• Xavier hit 54 percent (19-for-35) of its shot attempts and went 8-for-12 from behind the arc. The Musketeers also forced six turnovers, converting the miscues into 14 points.

• The Musketeers held an 18-13 on the glass with Nate Johnson pacing Xavier with five rebounds.

• Zach Freemantle had 16 points on 7-for-7 shooting to pace the Musketeers in scoring. Paul Scruggs added 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting. Nate Johnson chipped in eight points.

SECOND HALF

• Xavier opened the second half by outscoring the Sooners, 16-6, on 5-for-6 shooting to take a 64-45 lead with 15:59 on the clock. Oklahoma responded with a 14-5 run over the next five minutes to close within 10 points, 69-59.

• The Musketeers ended the half by outscoring Oklahoma, 30-18, on 10-for-16 shooting to pull away for the win. The Musketeers hit six three pointers down the stretch with Zach Freemantle and Nate Johnson combining for 21 points in the final 11 minutes of action.

• Xavier hit 60.7 percent (17-for-28) of its shot attempts in the second half and went 11-for-20 from behind the arc.

NOTABLES

• Zach Freemantle scored a career-high 28 points on 12-for-14 shooting. He added a career-high four 3-pointers. The sophomore forward chipped in five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

• Nate Johnson finished with a Xavier career-high 20 points on 6-for-11 shooting. He added a team-high six rebounds. The guard's seven 3-pointers were also a career high and were the most by a Musketeer since Trevon Bluiett hit eight vs Seton Hall in 2018.

• Xavier hit a school record 19 three pointers, breaking the old record of 16 set on three previous occasions: Jan. 6, 2008 at Auburn, Jan. 3, 2008 vs. Virginia and on Feb. 3, 2007 vs. Charlotte.

• Xavier's 7-0 start is its best since starting the 2016-17 season at 7-0. This is Xavier's first perfect non-conference season since finishing 12-0 in the 2015-16 season.

• Paul Scruggs finished with 20 points on 6-for-11 shooting with four 3-pointers. The senior guard added a team-high eight assists and three steals.

• Xavier finished the game with a .571 field-goal percentage (36-for-63) and a .594 three-point field-goal percentage (19-for-32). The Musketeers were also 8-for-10 from the foul line.

• Xavier won the battle on the glass, 33-28, and scored seven more points off of turnovers (19-12).

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