Freemantle, Nunge Lead Musketeers Over Montana, 86-64

Friday, November 11

Cincinnati, Ohio

8 p.m.

Xavier University

2-0,0-0Big East

Montana

0-2,0-0Big Sky

Montana

Xavier

Freemantle, Nunge Lead Musketeers Over Montana, 86-64

11.12.22 | Men's Basketball

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Zach Freemantle finished with a game-high 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Zach Freemantle and Jack Nunge combined for 33 points on 13-for-19 shooting on Friday night, leading the Musketeers to an 86-64 win over Montana at Cintas Center. The Musketeers improve to 2-0 on the year, while the Grizzlies drop to 0-2.

Xavier hit its first 10 shots of the game, taking a 27-17 lead at the 12:03 mark in the first half. Montana closed within nine points twice before the Musketeers took their largest lead of the half, 49-34, on a KyKy Tandy free throw with 40 seconds on the clock. The Grizzlies hit a three pointer in the closing seconds to make the score, 49-37, at the break.

The Musketeers opened the second half on a 10-2 run, taking their first 20-point lead (59-39) with 16:23 on the clock. Montana only closed within 17 points twice in the second half. The Musketeers outscored the Grizzlies, 37-27, in the frame to pull away for the 86-64 victory. Xavier led by as many as 29 points (78-49) with 6:37 left in regulation.

NOTABLES

• Xavier hit 64 percent of its shot attempts (32-for-50), the team's highest field-goal percentage since Dec. 15, 2018 (.714 field-goal percentage vs Eastern Kentucky). The Musketeers also finished the game 8-for-14 from behind the arc and 14-for-19 from the foul line.

• The Musketeers forced 16 turnovers, converting the miscues into 19 points. Xavier also held a 44-20 advantage in points in the paint and scored 13 more fastbreak points (16-3). Xavier also had 11 or more steals for the second time in as many games.

• Zach Freemantle led four players in the double figures with a game-high 18 points. The senior forward was 8-for-11 from the floor. He added four assists, four steals, three rebounds and two blocks.

• Jack Nunge finished with 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting. The forward added four rebounds and two assists.

• KyKy Tandy scored 14 points on 4-for-6 shooting with four 3-pointers. He added four rebounds, one steal and one assist.

• Colby Jones rounded out the double-figure scorers with 12 points on 3-for-6 shooting. He was a perfect 6-for-6 from the foul line. The junior guard added five assists.

• Souley Boum, Desmond Claude and Adam Kunkel all added seven points. Boum also dished out five assists.

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 15 vs Fairfield. Tip-off is slated for 9 p.m. with the game being aired nationally on FS2.

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