An 8-0 Run In Final Minutes Lifts Men's Basketball Over Red Storm

Monday, February 17

New York City, N.Y.

6:30 p.m.

Xavier University

17-9,6-7Big East

St. John's

14-12,3-10Big East

Xavier

St. John's (NY)

Photo by: Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire

An 8-0 Run In Final Minutes Lifts Men's Basketball Over Red Storm

02.17.20 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Season Stats Photos

Naji Marshall and Tyrique Jones posted double-doubles while six Musketeers score in double-figures

By: Laura Topp, Xavier Athletic Communications

NEW YORK – After 10 lead changes and an 8-0 Xavier run in the final two minutes of the game, Xavier topped St. John's on Monday night at Madison Square Garden, 75-74. A made layup in the paint and a pair of free-throws from Zach Freemantle put the Musketeers on top in the final seconds. KyKy Tandy sealed the victory on the defensive end with a block as time expired.

Six Musketeers scored in double-figures, led by Paul Scruggs' 16 points and four rebounds. Tyrique Jones posted his 18^thdouble-double of the season with 15 points and 15 boards. Naji Marshall added 15 points and 11 rebounds, his second of the season.

Xavier improves to 17-9 on the season, 6-7 in BIG EAST action.

FIRST HALF

After a scoreless opening two minutes, Paul Scruggs gave the Musketeers the first five points of the game, 5-0 at 17:31. On the first bucket Scruggs connected from the short corner and the following possession drained a deep three.
The Musketeers held St. John's shooting zero percent from the field into the first media timeout of the game, leading 8-1 at the 16-minute mark.
Out of the media, KyKy Tandy found Paul Scruggs cross-court for a triple to put the Musketeers up 12-3 at 15:16.
The Red Storm combined for an 8-1 run over a two-minute period to come within six, but after an offensive board, Zach Freemantle brought it back to eight-point margin with a dunk, 17-11 with 11:06.
St. John's went on an 8-0 run to take their first lead of the game, 19-17 at the 7:36 mark.
Jason Carter erased a 4-minute scoring drought, earning the bucket and one to reclaim the lead, 20-19 7:23.
KyKy Tandy knocked down two free throws to regain the lead, 28-27 at 4:44. St. Johns responded with a quick layup in transition to go up one, but Tyrique Jones connected in the paint to give Xavier a 30-29 advantage into the final media of the half.
Zach Freemantle lifted the Musketeers with a three pointer, after a bad pass steal on the defensive end forcing a St. John's timeout, 37-35 with 32 seconds left in the half.
Paul Scruggs grabbed the offensive board and made a second-chance layup as time expired sending Xavier into the locker with a 39-37 edge at the break. Paul Scruggs led the Musketeers with 10 points at the break while Tyrique Jones grabbed eight boards.
There were eight lead changes this half.

SECOND HALF

Tyrique Jones opened the second half with a hook shot to extend Xavier's advantage to four.
Jason Carter came from behind on the defensive end for a monster block that turned into a slam dunk from Tyrique Jones in transition, putting Xavier up 46-40 at the 17-minute marker.
Zach Freemantle connected for a left-hand hook, off the glass to give Xavier a four-point lead into the first media break, 48-44.
Out of the break, Naji Marshall added nine points for the Musketeers, to put them up 57-54 with 12:40 remaining.
St. John's went on a 6-0 to claim their first lead of the half at 9:05, 61-64 forcing a Xavier timeout. Out of the timeout, the Red Storm added four more points to extend their largest lead of the night to that point, 68-61 with 7:23 remaining.
Out of the timeout, Paul Scruggs silenced the scoreless drought, with back-to-back triples to bring Xavier back within three, 70-67 with 6:18 remaining.
After an offensive board, Paul Scruggs found Naji Marshall in the paint for the one-handed slam to bring Xavier's deficit to one, 70-69 at 3:39 left in regulation.
St. John's extended their lead hitting two free-throws. On the next possession, KyKy Tandy connected for the driving layup to bring it within three.
Naji Marshall connected on a jumper from the elbow to bring Xavier back within one with a little over a minute remaining, 74-73.
Zach Freemantle put the Musketeers ahead, 75-74, on a jumper from Naji Marshall with 10 seconds remaining.
Zach Freemantle got fouled in the final seconds, draining two free-throws to seal the victory for the Musketeers. Xavier topped St. John's 77-74.

NOTABLE

This was Xavier's 11th-straight victory over St. Johns.
Tyrique Jones posted his 18th double-double of the season.
Jason Carter added 10 points on 4-9 shooting from the field.
KyKy Tandy and Zach Freemantle combined for 22 points and 10 rebounds.
13 of Naji Marshall's 15 points came in the final 20 minutes.
Xavier dominated on the glass, outrebounding St. Johns 51-39. 37 of Xavier's rebounds came on the defensive end.
The Musketeers shot 48 percent from the field.
46 of Xavier's 77 points came in the paint.
Quentin Goodin is now just one-point shy of joining Xavier's 1,000-point club.