Men's Basketball Holds Off Late DePaul Run for Second-Straight Road Win

Tuesday, February 4

Chicago, Ill.

9 p.m.

Xavier University

15-8,4-6Big East

DePaul

13-10,1-9Big East

Xavier

DePaul

Men's Basketball Holds Off Late DePaul Run for Second-Straight Road Win

02.04.20 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photos Season Stats Box Score

Tyrique Jones posted his 15th double-double of season in victory over the Blue Demons.

By: Laura Topp, Xavier Athletic Communications

CHICAGO, Ill. -- Five Musketeers hit double figures to lift Xavier over the Blue Demons, 67-59, on Tuesday night at Wintrust Arena. Xavier jumped out to an early lead and maintained a two-possession lead despite a late DePaul run which brought the Blue Demons within six in the final minute. Paul Scruggs led the Musketeers with 13 points on 5-9 shooting. Tyrique Jones posted his 15th double-double of the season, scoring 12 points and grabbing 18 boards. Quentin Goodin and KyKy Tandy both added 12 points for Xavier and Naji Marshall contributed 11 points and had seven boards.

The Musketeers improve to 4-6 in conference play and 15-8 overall.

FIRST HALF

After Xavier gained possession on the tip, Paul Scruggs started off strong with a second-chance, deep three pointer from the left wing to give Xavier an early edge.
DePaul responded with back-to-back threes to put the Blue Demons up 6-3 at 18:22.
Xavier added eight points on the next three possessions, starting with an easy jumper for Jason Carter. Then, Paul Scruggs connected from three-point range on the left wing, on back-to-back possessions, 11-6 Xavier with 16:56 remaining.
Naji Marshall contributed to Xavier 13-0 run, after forcing a turnover on a bad pass which lead to a monster dunk in transition, forcing a DePaul timeout with 14:44 remaining in the half while Xavier led 16-6.
DePaul erased a three-minute scoring drought on a second-chance tip in bucket. KyKy Tandy added to Xavier's run with a contested jumper at the elbow that was ruled a goaltending violation.
Quentin Goodin added two for the Musketeers on a driving layup through traffic, to put Xavier up 20-8 at 13:10.
Quentin Goodin found KyKy Tandy on the right wing, when Goodin distracted the defense and kicked it out for the triple.
Out of the media timeout, KyKy Tandy found Quentin Goodin for a quick three pointer in the left corner. Xavier's next possession, Bryce Moore kicked the ball to Quentin Goodin for another basket from the top of the key, 29-12 Xavier with 9:41. The Musketeers held the Blue Demons scoreless from the field for 3:10, forcing a DePaul timeout.
Both teams were held scoreless into the final media of the half, Xavier led 30-16 with 3:42 remaining.
KyKy Tandy erased the scoring drought on a three-pointer from Quentin Goodin on the left wing, to put Xavier up 17 with 3:06 left in the half.
After a DePaul lost ball turnover, Quentin Goodin picked up the ball, finding Naji Marshall in transition who finished with the fast-break dunk to put Xavier on a 6-0 run and give the Musketeers its largest lead thus far of 19.
The Musketeers led the Blue Demons 35-16 at the break.
Xavier held DePaul scoreless for the final 8:23 of the half.
Xavier held DePaul shooting 20 percent from the field on 6-30 shooting and 22 percent from beyond the arc going 2-9.
The Musketeer bench outscored DePaul's 16-1 and dominated the boards, grabbing 28 to DePaul's 19.
Paul Scruggs led all scorers at the break with nine, shooting 3-4 from three-point range.
Tyrique Jones dominated on the glass in the first, finishing the first 20 minutes with 10 boards, five on the offensive end and five on the defensive.
DePaul's 16 points at the half, is the fewest points by a Xavier opponent in a half since 2016.

SECOND HALF

DePaul opened the second half with an under the basket layup. After back-to-back Xavier turnovers, DePaul's Jalen Coleman-Lands connected on a three and forced Xavier to call a time out up 35-21 with 18:26 left.
DePaul opened the second half on a 8-0 run that was broken by Quentin Goodin of the layup.
Paul Scruggs extended Xavier's lead to 15, with a reverse layup off the dribble, putting Xavier ahead 39-24 at 15:10.
After a monster block on the defensive end, Tyrique Jones connected for layup under the basket from Bryce Moore, forcing a Blue Demon timeout.
Paul Scruggs went coast-to-coast on a turnaround jumper under the basket at the 13 minute-mark to give Xavier a 17-point advantage, 43-26.
Zach Freemantle added to the Musketeer lead on the backdoor cut as Bryce Moore drew the defense on the drive, 47-29 with 10:40 left in the game.
Tyrique Jones came from behind to block DePaul's Markese Jacobs layup and Naji Marshall grabbed the rebound. KyKy Tandy erased a 3:09 scoring drought with the wide-open layup in transition.
After a shooting foul inside, KyKy Tandy connect for a pair free throws to extend the Musketeer lead, 53-36 with 5:19 left in regulation.
A held ball situation and the arrow point to Xavier, Tyrique Jones had a single-handed, monstrous finish to contribute to Xavier's 6-0 run and put them up 19.
DePaul combined for an 8-0 run over 1:02, to bring its deficit within 10, 57-47 with 2:23 remaining.
DePaul brought the game within seven, on dunk from Paul Reed off a Musketeer turnover with 1:51 left in the game, Xavier leading 59-51.
A second-change layup from DePaul's Paul Reed and a pair of free throws from Jalen Coleman-Lands closed the gap to six. However, Jason Carter and Naji Marshall both sank two-free throws to put Xavier back up 10, 66-56 with 16 seconds remaining.
Quentin Goodin sealed the victory with a free throw with 4 seconds to go, giving Xavier a 67-59 victory over DePaul.
Tyrique Jones went 7-10 from the line in the final 20 minutes and earned 11 of his points in the half.

NOTABLE

Tyrique Jones tied a season high of 18 rebounds on his 15th double-double of the season.
Xavier dominated on the glass, outrebounding DePaul 50-37. The Musketeers grabbed 35 defensive boards compared to DePaul's 26.
Paul Scruggs led Xavier with 13 points, shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc. The junior also grabbed seven rebounds in 36 minutes of play.
KyKy Tandy finished the game with 12 points on 4-6 shooting from the field.
Jason Carter added four points for Xavier with seven rebounds.
Zach Freemantle contributed two points and three defensive boards.
Bryce Moore added a free throw for Xavier and three assists.
Quentin Goodin dished three assists on the night, while adding 12 points while shooting 50 percent from the field.
Naji Marshall also added 11 points and seven defensive rebounds.