Musketeers Grab Third-Straight Win in 64-58 Victory Over Providence

Saturday, February 8

Cincinnati, Ohio

8 p.m.

Xavier University

16-8,5-6Big East

Providence

13-11,6-5Big East

Providence

Xavier

Musketeers Grab Third-Straight Win in 64-58 Victory Over Providence

02.08.20 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Season Stats Photos Game Notes

Jones records sixth-straight double-double in home win over Friars

By: Brandon Eckman, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier men's basketball defeated Providence, 64-58, on Saturday night at Cintas Center. Senior Tyrique Jones led the way for the Musketeers, recording a double-double for the sixth-straight game as he scored 14 points and grabbed 18 rebounds. Xavier improves to 16-8 overall and 5-6 in BIG EAST Conference play.

FIRST HALF

Xavier opened the game with a baseline dribble-drive dunk from Jason Carter, making the score 2-2 with 18:25 left to play in the half. On the next possession, Tyrique Jones grabbed an offensive rebound off his own miss and connected on a floater, making the score 4-4.
With 15:45 left to play, Zach Freemantle connected on a floater from the short corner, making the score 8-6 in favor of Providence. Naji Marshall gave the Musketeers the lead two possessions later after connecting on a three-pointer from the left side, making the score 9-8.
Layups from Paul Scruggs and Jones on consecutive possessions gave Xavier a 13-10 lead with 12:30 left to play in the half. Xavier extended their lead to 16-10 a minute later when Scruggs knocked down his first three-pointer of the game.
The Friars continued on a 10-0 run over the next 2:00, making the score 20-16 in favor of Providence. Marshall snapped the run with two made free-throws out of a Xavier timeout, making the score 20-18.
Made hook shots from Freemantle on back-to-back possessions made the score 26-24 in favor of Providence with 5:20 left to play. With 3:50 left to play, Xavier forced a Friar turnover and Jones threw down a fast break alleyoop dunk, tying the score at 26.
Bryce Moore gave Xavier a 28-26 lead following a made jump shot from the right elbow with 2:30 left to play in the half. The Friars scored four straight points to close out the half, making the score 30-28 in favor of Providence.
Freemantle and Jones both scored six points in the half, leading the way for the Musketeers. Jones grabbed six rebounds and had four assists, while Freemantle added three rebounds and one assist.
Xavier shot 12-of-27, 44 percent, from the floor in the half and connected two three-pointers. The Musketeers scored 16 points in the paint and led by as many as six points in the half.

SECOND HALF

Jones and Freemantle combined to score the first five points of the half for the Musketeers, making the score 34-33 in favor of Providence with 17:20 left to play. A minute later, KyKy Tandy tied the game at 36 after he connected on a three-pointer from the left side of the arc.
Following a media timeout, Tandy connected on a three-point play after finishing a driving layup and getting fouled down low, making the score 39-38 in favor of the Musketeers. Scruggs extended the lead after connecting on a fall-away jump shot in the paint, making the score 41-38.
With 11:30 left to play, Freemantle connected on a floater down low from the left side off an assist from Tandy, making the score 44-41 in favor of Xavier. After the Friars scored five straight points, Moore responded with a three-pointer after a media timeout to give Xavier a 47-46 lead with 10:00 left to play.
Tandy connected on a fast break layup with 8:00 remaining, making the score 50-49 in favor of Providence. On the next possession, Scruggs knocked down a transition three-pointer to give Xavier a 52-50 lead, forcing Providence to call a timeout.
With 6:10 left to play, Carter threw down a baseline dunk to give Xavier a 56-52 lead. Two possessions later, Jones extended the lead to 58-52 after connecting on a floater from the short corner with 5:00 left to play.
With 1:20 remaining, Tandy was fouled and connected on two free throws, giving Xavier a 61-56 lead. Two possessions later, Scruggs drained two more free throws, giving the Musketeers a 63-58 lead. Providence missed a three-pointer on the other end and the shot was rebounded by Jones with 0:15 remaining.
Jones connected on one of two free throws, making the score 64-58. Providence missed two scoring opportunities as time expired, giving the Musketeers a 64-58 victory.
Scruggs and Jones both led the way in scoring in the second half with eight points each. Jones grabbed 11 rebounds in the half, while Scruggs had three rebounds and two assists.
Xavier shot 12-of-28, 43 percent, from the floor in the second half and scored 17 bench points. 32 of Xavier's 36 second half points came from in the paint.

NOTABLE

Tyrique Jones led the way in scoring for the Musketeers with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor. Jones also grabbed 18 rebounds in the contest and dished out four assists.
Jones recorded his sixth-straight double-double and now has 16 total this season. Jones leads the BIG EAST in double-doubles and currently ranks third in the nation in offensive rebounds per game.
Jason Carter scored his 1,000^th career point on Saturday night and scored four total points in the game. Carter added three rebounds and two steals in the victory.
Quentin Goodin is now just one-point shy of joining Xavier's 1,000-point club.
The Musketeers have now won three-straight games and improve to 5-6 in BIG EAST Conference play this season.