Xavier Tops Winthrop in Skip Prosser Classic to Close Non-Conference Action

Saturday, December 16

Cincinnati, Ohio

7:30 p.m.

Xavier University

6-5,0-0Big East

Winthrop

8-4,0-0Big South

Winthrop

Xavier

Xavier Tops Winthrop in Skip Prosser Classic to Close Non-Conference Action

12.16.23 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)

The Musketeers defeated the Eagles, 75-59, at Cintas Center on Saturday night

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier men's basketball closed non-conference action with a 75-59 win over Winthrop on Saturday night in the Skip Prosser Classic at Cintas Center.

Xavier hit 84.6 percent (11-for-13) of its shot attempts to start the game, taking its first double-figure lead (25-14) with 12:14 on the clock. The Musketeers led by as many as 12 points (28-16) on a Trey Green three pointer with 10:10 left in the first half.

Winthrop closed within six points three times in the closing minutes of the first half and made the score, 38-32, on a Nick Johnson three pointer with 54 seconds on the clock.

The Eagles opened the second half on a 10-5 run, closing within one point (43-42) with 13:28 left in regulation. Xavier responded with an 11-1 run over the next five minutes to regain a double-figure lead, 54-44.

The Musketeers never relinquished the lead and outscored the Eagles, 21-15, over the final eight and a half minutes of action - pulling away for the 16-point victory.

NOTABLES

Quincy Olivari scored a game-high 22 points on 7-for-14 shooting, his fourth 20-point performance of the season. The guard added three rebounds and one steal.
Desmond Claude finished with 15 points on 7-for-13 shooting. He added seven rebounds, a team-high six assists and two blocks. The seven rebounds matched his career high in the category.
Dayvion McKnight added 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting to go along with a game-high nine assists. The guard chipped in four rebounds, a game-high three steals and one block.
Gytis Nemeikša posted 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting to go along with nine rebounds in 17 minutes of action off the bench. The forward added one block and one steal.
Abou Ousmane added seven points on 3-for-5 shooting and pulled down nine rebounds. The forward added a game-high four blocks.
Xavier posted a .500 field-goal percentage (28-for-56) and went 7-for-22 from behind the arc. The Musketeers were also 12-for-15 from the foul line. Xavier has now recorded a .500 field-goal percentage or better in four games this season.
Xavier won the battle on the glass, 42-30, and held a 27-0 advantage in fastbreak points. The Musketeers also scored 10 more points in the paint (38-28) than the Eagles.
Winthrop held a 13-9 advantage in points off of turnovers and scored one more second-chance point (13-12). The Eagles also scored three more bench points (19-16).
Xavier recorded a season-high 12 blocks, the most blocks in a game by the Musketeers since March 5, 2009 vs Dayton (also had 12 blocks). The 12 blocks are the most blocks in a game this season by a BIG EAST team, while ranking tied for ninth in the NCAA.

UP NEXT

Xavier opens BIG EAST action at St. John's on Wednesday, Dec. 20. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Carnesecca Arena with the game being aired nationally on FS1.

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