Musketeers Out Run Racers

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The Murray State Racers are picked to win the Ohio Valley Conference but the Xavier Musketeers were too big and fast for them.  As evidence I offer you the 89-62 final score, the fourth win of the young season for the young Musketeers.

Murray fell to 2-2 after a close loss to Houston at home and wins over Middle Tennessee and Brescia.

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"We absolutely decimated them on the glass," Xavier coach Chris Mack said.

Xavier's 56-23 rebound edge turned into 16 fastbreak points and 27 second chance points.  Xavier had more offensive rebounds (27) than Murray State had total rebounds (23).

Trevon Bluiett scored 19 points, the first Xavier freshman to score 16 or more in their first four games since Mark Lyons did it in 2009.

"He's a great teammate," Mack said of Bluiett. "He's humble and a coachable kid.  He has to get better on the defensive end, but we're glad he's on our team."

The two seniors on the team, Matt Stainbrook and Dee Davis scored in double figures.  Stainbrook scored 19.  Davis had 13 points and five assists.  Jalen Reynolds scored 12 points and garnered 11 rebounds.  James Farr scored 10 and led all rebounders with 14 rebounds.

Xavier had a 20-point lead at the half and expanded it in the second half by seven.

Potential OVC Player of the Year, Cameron Payne led all scorers with 23 points and led the Racers with seven rebounds.

Xavier freshman sharpshooter J.P.Macura went down hard trying a layup after a steal.  Murray State senior Terron Gilmore fouled Macura in the air.  Macura landed hard on his tailbone and had to leave the game.  The officiating crew ejected Gilmore for the foul and Jalen Reynolds for leaving the bench.

"It wasn't a flagrant foul," Mack said.  "J.P. was in the air and Gilmore tried to block the shot, he just hit him with his body.  You can't change momentum once you're in the air.  I told Steve (Murray coach Prohm) that.  Jalen left the bench.  He didn't go after Gilmore.  He went to aid Macura, but rules are rules.  The good thing is it is just for this game and Jalen will be able to play all the games in Anaheim."

The officiating crew of Mike Roberts, Roger Ayers and Doug Shows took control immediately.  The Cintas Center was the scene of an ugly fight between Xavier and the University of Cincinnati in 2011.