Paul Scruggs Scores 17 to Lead Xavier in Season Opening Win Over Niagara

Tuesday, November 9

Cincinnati, Ohio

7:30 p.m.

Xavier University

1-0,0-0Big East

Niagara

0-1,0-0MAAC

Niagara

Xavier

Photo by: Rooted Creative

Paul Scruggs Scores 17 to Lead Xavier in Season Opening Win Over Niagara

11.09.21 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Photos

Musketeers are back in action on Friday, Nov. 12, hosting Kent State

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier men's basketball opened up the 2021-22 season on Tuesday evening, taking a 63-60 win over the Niagara Purple Eagles at Cintas Center. Paul Scruggs scored a team-high 17 points, and Colby Jones added 16 for the Musketeers.

The Musketeers moved to 1-0, starting a 32nd-straight season with a win, while Niagara starts out at 0-1.

FIRST HALF

The Musketeers opened 4-of-4 from outside, taking an eight point lead, 13-5, in the first seven minutes of the game. Paul Scruggs connected on a pair of threes in the early going for Xavier.
Back-to-back Purple Eagle threes pulled Niagara within two, 13-11, before Xavier scored eight unanswered to take a 21-11 lead, the largest lead of the first half.
The Purple Eagles got as close as four in the final minutes of the half before a basket in the final seconds set the halftime score at 29-23.
Colby Jones led Xavier with 10 point in the first half. Paul Scruggs added nine, shooting 2-3 from outside.
Jack Nunge led Xavier with four rebounds as both teams grabbed 18 rebounds.
Xavier forced nine first-half turnovers while committing seven, but outscored Niagara 11-2 on points off turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

SECOND HALF

Five points to open the second half extended a 7-0 run to push Xavier's lead back out to double digits, 34-23, less than three minutes in to the second half.
Xavier's run turned into a 10-2 advantage through the first five minutes of the second half, giving Xavier a 13-point lead, which matched its largest of the game.
The two teams traded baskets with Xavier maintaining a double-digit lead until the eight minute mark when Niagara pulled within nine, 47-38.
The Purple Eagles chipped into the lead, getting as close as four with a 10-2 run before Paul Scruggs scored five straight Musketeer points to push the lead back to seven with two minutes remaining.
Jerome Hunter went 4-of-4 from the free throw line in the final 30 seconds giving Xavier a 66-57 lead before a Niagara three at the buzzer set the final score at 63-60.
Dieonte Miles led Xavier with nine points in the second half. Miles also grabbed a team-high matching six rebounds after halftime.
Paul Scruggs added eight second half points for the Musketeers.
Xavier finished with a 21-13 advantage on the boards after the break, led by six for Miles and Jerome Hunter.

NOTABLES

Paul Scruggs led Xavier with 17 points, connecting on three outside shots. Scruggs also dished out a team-high six assists, and grabbed five rebounds.
Colby Jones finished with 16 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Jerome Hunter led the Musketeers on the boards with nine, and score seven points, including going 4-of-4 from the free throw line, all in the final 30 seconds of the game.
Xavier finished with a 39-31 advantage on rebounds.
The Musketeers forced 16 turnovers while committing 13, and outscored Niagara 17-11 on points off turnovers.
Niagara's Marcus Hammond led all scorers with 25 points.
Xavier has won 32-straight regular season openers, including 22 straight at Cintas Center.

UP NEXT

Xavier remains at home for its next game, hosting Kent State at Cintas Center on Friday, Nov. 12 at Cintas Center. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. on FS1.

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