Xavier Falls in Overtime at No. 11 UConn

Wednesday, December 18

Hartford, Conn.

7 p.m.

Xavier University

8-4,0-1Big East

UConn

9-3,1-0Big East

OT 1

Xavier

UConn

12.18.24 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Season Stats Box Score Photos

Ryan Conwell leads all scorers with 23, Dante Maddox Jr. adds a season-high 22 points for Musketeers

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

HARTFORD, Conn. - Xavier battled with No. 11 UConn down to the wire at the XL Center, but fell, 94-89, in overtime on Wednesday evening in the BIG EAST opener.

The Musketeers move to 8-4 on the year and 0-1 in BIG EAST play, while the Huskies move to 9-3 overall and 1-0 in conference action.

Xavier returns home on Saturday, Dec. 21, hosting No. 9 Marquette at Cintas Center. The Musketeers and the Golden Eagles get underway at noon on FOX.

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UConn led by as many as 10 in the first half before Xavier went on a 12-0 run over six minutes to take the lead in the final six minutes of the first half. The two teams traded possessions over the final minutes of the first half, with Xavier taking a 30-29 lead into the break.
The Huskies opened the second half by outscoring the Musketeers 9-4 in the first three and half minutes to take a four-point lead, UConn's largest of the period. The Musketeers chipped away at the advantage, retaking the lead with 11 minute remaining. After the Huskies rebuilt a four-point lead, a 9-0 Xavier run, featuring back-to-back threes from Dante Maddox Jr., gave the Musketeers a five-point lead, Xavier's largest of the game. UConn retook the lead late in the second half, but a pair of Dante Maddox Jr. free throws in the final 10 second sent the game to overtime.
The Huskies opened the overtime period with a three to take the lead, and never relinquished it, going ahead by as many as seven before taking the 94-89 win.
Ryan Conwell led four Musketeers in double figures, finishing with a game-high 23 after leading Xavier with 12 in the first half. Conwell went 9-of-13 from the floor, connecting on three shots from beyond the arc.
Dante Maddox Jr. posted a season-high 22 points after leading the Musketeers with 18 in the second half. After the break, Maddox connected on five of six three pointers. He also grabbed a team-high matching four rebounds.
Dayvion McKnight added 18 points for the Musketeers, with 12 coming in the second half. He went 4-of-4 from the floor in the second half, including a three and 3-of-3 from the free throw line. McKnight also matched Maddox for team high with four boards and had three assists.
Marcus Foster finished with 15 points, connecting on three outside shots.
Xavier shot 50 percent from the floor, connecting on 13-of-24 three pointers, while UConn shot 47.8 percent from the floor, going 8-of-24 from outside.
The Huskies had a 35-27 advantage on the boards, with a 14-7 advantage on the offensive glass, outscoring the Musketeers 13-2 on second-chance points.