Xavier University Athletics

Conwell, Musketeers Top Wildcats on Tuesday Night
01.14.25 | Men's Basketball
Ryan Conwell scored a game-high 34 points; Xavier upends Villanova, 69-63
CINCINNATI - Ryan Conwell scored a game-high 34 points on Tuesday night, leading the Musketeers to a 69-63 win at Cintas Center.
Xavier improves to 11-7 (3-4 BIG EAST) on the year, while the Wildcats drop to 11-7 (4-3 BIG EAST).
Xavier continues BIG EAST action on Saturday, Jan. 18 at No. 7 Marquette. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. ET from Fiserv Forum with the game being aired nationally on FOX.
Men's Basketball vs Villanova by Xavier Musketeers on Exposure
Xavier improves to 11-7 (3-4 BIG EAST) on the year, while the Wildcats drop to 11-7 (4-3 BIG EAST).
Xavier continues BIG EAST action on Saturday, Jan. 18 at No. 7 Marquette. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. ET from Fiserv Forum with the game being aired nationally on FOX.
NOTABLE
- Xavier opened the game on a 13-4 run capped by a Jerome Hunter three-point play at the 14:21 mark. Villanova responded by scoring nine straight points to tie the game at 13-13.
- The remainder of the first half had two more ties and two lead changes before the Wildcats closed the frame on an 11-3 run, taking an eight-point lead (32-24) into the locker room.
- Xavier outscored Villanova, 13-5, to open the second half and tie the game for the fourth time with 15:12 on the clock. The Wildcats regained the lead on the next possession and led until 1:51 left in regulation.
- The Musketeers tied the game for the fifth time, 58-58, on a Ryan Conwell three pointer with 1:40 left in the game. Xavier outscored Villanova, 14-5, over the final two minutes to pull away for the six-point victory (69-63).
- Xavier was 2-for-2 from the floor and 8-for-9 from the foul line in the final two minutes.
- Ryan Conwell scored a career-high 34 points on 8-for-13 shooting. The guard was 6-for-10 from behind the arc and 12-for-14 from the foul line. He added four assists, three rebounds and two steals.
- Ryan Conwell is the first Xavier player to score 34 or more points in a game since March 2, 2024 (Desmond Claude scored 36 points at Georgetown; W, 98-93). Conwell is the fifth BIG EAST player to record a 30-point game this season.
- Zach Freemantle was one rebound short of a double-double as the forward finished the game with 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds. He added three assists in 36 minutes of action.
- Dayvion McKnight added 10 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals. Marcus Foster and Dailyn Swain both finished with six points. Swain added five rebounds.
- Xavier finished the game with a .408 field-goal percentage (20-for-49) and went 10-for-25 from behind the arc. Xavier was also 19-for-29 from the foul line. The Musketeers have made 10 or more three pointers in a game eight times this year.
- Villanova won the battle on the glass, 34-28, and scored two more second-chance points (10-8). Xavier held an 18-10 advantage in points off of turnovers and scored two more points in the paint (18-16). Xavier also scored three more fastbreak points (10-7) than the Wildcats.
- All told, the game had four lead changes and five ties.
- Villanova finished the game with a .431 field-goal percentage (22-for-51). The Wildcats were also 8-for-21 from behind the arc and 11-for-14 from the foul line.
HIGHLIGHTS
PRESS CONFERENCE
PHOTOS
Men's Basketball vs Villanova by Xavier Musketeers on Exposure
Team Stats
VU
XU
FG%
.431
.408
3FG%
.381
.400
FT%
.786
.731
RB
34
28
TO
14
11
STL
5
6
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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