Claude, Olivari Lead Musketeers Over Villanova on Wednesday Night

Wednesday, February 7

Cincinnati, Ohio

7:00 p.m.

Xavier University

13-10,7-5Big East

Villanova

12-11,5-7Big East

Villanova

Xavier

Claude, Olivari Lead Musketeers Over Villanova on Wednesday Night

02.07.24 | Men's Basketball

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

Xavier topped the Wildcats, 56-53, at Cintas Center

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Desmond Claude and Quincy Olivari combined for 25 points, 14 rebounds and six assists on Wednesday night - leading the Musketeers to a 56-53 win over Villanova at Cintas Center.

Xavier captured its third straight game, moving to 13-10 (7-5 BIG EAST) on the year. The Wildcats dropped to 12-11 (5-7 BIG EAST).

The game was back-and-forth as it featured four ties and four lead changes. Xavier had its largest lead of the game, 19-9, with 9:10 on the clock in the first half. Villanova never led by more than five points.

The Musketeers led by as many as seven points in the second half, 42-35, with 10:33 left in regulation. The Wildcats battled back to tie th game at 50-50 with 5:21 left on the clock.

Back-to-back baskets from Desmond Claude and Dailyn Swain pushed Xavier's lead to four points (54-50) with 2:35 left in regulation. Villanova closed within one point on a Brendan Hausen free throw with 45 seconds on the clock. Quincy Olivari hit a pair of free throws with 18 seconds left in regulation to give Xavier a three-point advantage (56-53).

Xavier's defense didn't allow a Wildcat shot in the closing seconds as the Musketeers moved to 10-4 at Cintas Center this season.

NOTABLES

Quincy Olivari scored a team-high 14 points with three 3-pointers. The guard added eight rebounds and one steal in 38 minutes of action.
Desmond Claude chipped in 11 points, six rebounds and six assists in 38 minutes of action.
Dayvion McKnight finished with nine points, two rebounds and a game-high seven assists.
Abou Ousmane pulled down a game-high nine rebounds and posted a game-high five blocks. The forward added three points and one assist. He matched his career high in blocks (had five vs Delaware on Dec. 5, 2023; had five vs MTSU on March 2, 2023 while playing at UNT).
Dailyn Swain added eight points on 3-for-6 shooting in 17 minutes of action off the bench. The freshman chipped in five rebounds, two assists and a game-high two steals.
Xavier won the battle on the glass, 38-35, and held a 10-6 advantage in points off of turnovers. The Musketeers also scored four more second-chance points (13-9) and held a 9-3 advantage in fastbreak points. Villanova scored six more bench points (22-16) than Xavier.
Xavier finished the game with a .344 field-goal percentage (21-for-61) and went 6-for-27 from behind the arc. The Musketeers were also 8-for-12 from the foul line.