No. 25 Xavier Looks To Bounce Back On Friday Vs. Virginia Tech

Friday, November 26

Brooklyn, N.Y.

7:00 p.m.

Xavier University

Virginia Tech

No. 25 Xavier Looks To Bounce Back On Friday Vs. Virginia Tech

11.25.21 | Men's Basketball

Xavier-Virginia Tech Notes

The last meeting in the series was decided by a half-court shot.

By: Tom Eiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI --- The No. 25 Xavier University Musketeers, 4-1, take on the Virginia Tech Hokies, 5-1, on Friday night at 7 p.m. in the Upsie NIT Season Tip-Off at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Virginia Tech is No. 27 in the latest AP Poll, which is second among "others receiving votes."

Xavier leads the series 9-4, including eight wins in the last nine meetings. In the last meeting, XU defeated Virginia Tech 63-62 in overtime in the 2008 Puerto Rico Tip-Off on a half-court 3-pointer from current Xavier assistant coach Dante Jackson. Xavier and Virginia Tech were rivals in the Atlantic 10 Conference from 1996-2000.

THE MATCHUP

NO. 25/RV XAVIER UNIVERSITY MUSKETEERS (4-1) VS.
RV/RV VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (5-1)
UPSIE NIT SEASON TIP-OFF
FRIDAY, NOV. 26, 2021 AT BARCLAYS CENTER IN BROOKLYN, N.Y.

TV, RADIO & LIVE STATS

Television: ESPN2 with play by-play from Rich Hollenberg and analysis from Fran Fraschilla.
Radio: 55KRC with play-by-play from Xavier Hall of Famer Joe Sunderman ('79) and analysis from Xavier all-time leading scorer and Hall of Famer Byron Larkin ('88). Live Stats: Media stats at Statbroadcast.com and fan stats at GoXavier.com.

X FACTORS

• Xavier, 4-1 and No. 25 in this week's Associated Press Poll, is coming off an 82-70 loss to Iowa State in its first game of the Upsie NIT Season Tip-Off.
• Xavier junior Jack Nunge is tied for second on the team in scoring at 12.6 ppg. after his collegiate career-high 24-point game vs. Iowa State on 9-11 shooting.
• Xavier has four players averaging in double figures in scoring and a fifth at 9.6 ppg. Senior Paul Scruggs leads XU at 13.2 ppg.; also leads XU in assists at 3.8 apg.
• Xavier senior Paul Scruggs, 2021-22 preseason All-BIG EAST First Team, is in the top 25 on Xavier's all-time scoring list with 1,312 points.
• Xavier sophomore Colby Jones, one of four Xavier double-figure scorers, is second on the team in scoring (12.6 ppg.) and leads the BIG EAST in rebounding (10.0 rpg.). Jones has recorded double-doubles in points-rebounds in two straight games.
• Xavier senior Adam Kunkel, who was named to the BIG EAST Conference Honor Roll, averaged 18.0 ppg in two wins last week but sat out Wednesday due to illness.
• Xavier senior Nate Johnson hit four 3-pointers on his way to 20 points vs. Norfolk State on Nov. 21. Johnson was one of the nation's top 3-point shooters last season before having his season cut short by a leg injury.
• Xavier junior Zach Freemantle, who led XU in scoring at 16.1 ppg. and rebounding at 8.9 rpg. last season, is sidelined by injury as has not played yet this season.