Jones' Game-Winning Three Pointer Lifts Xavier Over Providence, 74-73

Sunday, January 10

Cincinnati, Ohio

11 a.m.

Xavier University

10-2,3-2Big East

Providence

7-5,3-3Big East

Providence

Xavier

Jones' Game-Winning Three Pointer Lifts Xavier Over Providence, 74-73

01.10.21 | Men's Basketball

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The freshman guard hit the game-winning three pointer on Sunday afternoon

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Freshman Colby Jones hit the game-winning three pointer in the final second on Sunday afternoon, leading the Musketeers to a 74-73 BIG EAST win over Providence at Cintas Center.

The Musketeers improved to 10-2 (3-2 BIG EAST), while the Friars dropped to 7-5 (3-3 BIG EAST).

FIRST HALF

• The first nine minutes of the game had seven lead changes and two ties, with neither team leading by more than four points. Trailing 18-16 at the 11:11 mark, the Musketeers went on a 13-2 run on 5-for-5 shooting - taking a seven-point lead (27-20) and forcing a Providence timeout (8:00). C.J. Wilcher capped the run with a pair of three pointers.

• Providence hit five of its next seven shots, engineering a 14-6 run to regain the lead, 34-33, with 1:44 left in the half. A Paul Scruggs jumper with with 1:25 on the clock gave the Musketeers a 35-34 advantage going into the locker room.

• Zach Freemantle led the Musketeers with seven points and five rebounds at the break, while C.J. Wilcher added six points. Providence held a 19-16 advantage on the glass.

SECOND HALF

• Xavier hit five of its first nine shots to open the second half, outscoring the Friars, 14-10, with eight points coming from Nate Johnson. Xavier led 49-44 on a pair of Zach Freemantle free throws at the 11:56 mark. Providence responded with an 8-2 run, regaining the lead, 52-51, and forcing a Xavier timeout (8:58).

• Following the timeout, the Musketeers went on a 13-7 run capped by a Zach Freemantle dunk - taking a 64-59 lead with 4:12 left in regulation. The Friars responded with a 14-2 run on 5-for-5 shooting, taking a 73-66 lead and forcing a Xavier timeout with 1:07 on the clock.

• Xavier closed the game on an 8-0 run on 3-for-3 shooting. Trailing 73-71, Colby Jones hit the game-winning three pointer with less than one second remaining on the clock.

• Defensively, the Musketeers held the Friars without a shot attempt in the final one minute and seven seconds. Xavier also forced two turnovers in that span.

NOTABLES

• Zach Freemantle scored a team-high 17 points on 7-for-15 shooting, his eighth game of the season in double figures. The sophomore forward also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.

• Nate Johnson rounded out the double-figure scorers with 14 points on 5-for-8 shooting. The guard hit four 3-pointers and added two steals, two assists and four rebounds.

• Freshman Colby Jones finished with nine points on 4-for-6 shooting. He added three rebounds and two assists.

• Adam Kunkel chipped in eight points, two steals and a team-high five assists. Paul Scruggs chipped in eight points, four assists and three rebounds.

• Xavier had 10 steals, its fifth game of the season with 10 or more steals. The Musketeers held a 17-15 advantage in points off of turnovers and pulled down four more rebounds (35-31).

• The game featured 24 lead changes and four ties. Neither team led by more than eight points in the game.

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 16 at Seton Hall. Tip-off is slated for 3:30 p.m. with the game being aired nationally on CBS Sports Network.

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