Men's Basketball Falls to Providence at Cintas Center

Wednesday, February 21

CIncinnati, Ohio

8:00 p.m.

Xavier University

13-13,7-8Big East

Providence

18-9,9-7Big East

Providence

Xavier

Men's Basketball Falls to Providence at Cintas Center

02.21.24 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photos Box Score Season Stats

Claude leads Musketeers with 22 points

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Desmond Claude scored 22 points to lead four Musketeers in double figures but Xavier men's basketball fell to Providence, 79-75, at Cintas Center on Wednesday evening.

Xavier moved to 13-13 on the season and 7-8 in BIG EAST play. Providence moved to 17-9 overall and 8-7 in BIG EAST play.

Providence hit the opening basket before the Musketeers hit back-to-back threes to move in front, going ahead by as many as nine in the first half, leading 28-19 with 7 minutes left int he half. The Friars went on a 12-1 run to move back in front, 31-29. Xavier responded with nine unanswered to retake the lead, going back ahead by as many as seven, 38-31, before PC basket set the halftime score at 38-33. Quincy Olivari led Xavier in the first half with 14 points.

The Musketeers extended the lead out to as many as eight to open the second half, going up 49-41 less than five minutes into the second half. PC chipped away at the lead, pulling within one six times over the next eight minutes, With just under eight minutes to play, the Friars tied the game up at 66-66 and outscoring Xavier 11-3 to go up by as many as eight, 77-69. Xavier scored six straight to cut the lead back to two, 77-75, in the final 30 seconds before a pair of PC free throws set the final score at 79-75.

NOTABLES

Desmond Claude led Xavier with 22 points after scoring 17 in the second half.
Quincy Olivari finished with 19 points after leading Xavier with 14 points in the first half. Olivari also grabbed
Dayvion McKnight added 16 points and had a team-high six assists.
Abou Ousmane finished with a double-double after scoring 13 points and grabbing a team-high 13 rebounds, a new career high.
Providence finished with a 39-34 advantage on the boards.

UP NEXT

Xavier heads out on the road for its next match-up, traveling to Marquette on Sunday, Feb. 25. First tip with the Golden Eagles is set for 5:00 p.m. on FS1.

HIGHLIGHTS