Xavier Scorches Friars In Big East Opener

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Xavier was hitting on all cylinders in the first Big East Conference game of the season.  The Musketeers had 22 assists and dominating the boards in an 82-56 win over the Providence Fryers.

The Musketeers 11-2, 1-0) had 38 rebounds to the Friars (10-4, 0-1) 20, leading to Xavier's largest margin of victory in their four-year membership in the conference.

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While National nimber on Villanova struggled to a three point win at home against the DePaul Demon Deacons, Xavier manhandled the Fryeirs, who came in with losses to Ohio State, Virginia and Boston College non of which were teh magnitude of the drubbing they took at the Cintas Center.

Trevon Bluiett led everyone with 22 points and nine rebounds as he sat out the last quarter of the game when Xavier coach Chris Mack emptied the bench.  Edmond Sumner had 13 points.  RaShid Gaston scored 12 and J.P. Macura scored 11 as the Musketeers pulled away from the Friars.

Providence coach Ed Cooley was just empty.  Waiting to face the inquisition by the press while standing in the Cintas Center hallway.

'I don't have much to say to them," Cooley said to no one in particular. "This might be the worst loss in my coaching career."

The Friars leading scorer Rodney Bullock a junior out of Hampton, Virginia had just two points and was a measly 1-for-11 from the field after coming into the game scoring 19.4 points per game. He also had half of his average of six rebounds per game.

Isaiah Jackon led Providence with 17 points.  Jalen Lindsey added 15.  Kalif Young led the Friars with five rebounds.

"We came out with a lot of energy and just were locked in from the get-go," Bluiett said.  "We knew what they were trying to do.  We tried to get Bullock out of his comfort zone.  We thought we did a pretty good job. We know his sweet spots. We tried to get him off that a little bit."

The strategy worked but the Musketeers didn't surprise the Friars but executed very well on both sides of the court.

"They did every thing we saw in the scouting report," Jackson said. "They played well in transition and shot the three very well.  We have to regroup.  We have another game on the road at Butler.  We have to fight from the beginning.  We can't dig ourselves a big hole like that."

Xavier Wins Third Straight With Victory Over Eastern Washington

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Baylor and Colorado gave the Xavier Musketeers a lesson in humility by giving the sixth ranked team beatings out west.

Baylor drubbed Xavier on December 3rd by 15 points (76-61) Colorado took Xavier down 68-66.

A hard fall means a high bounce if you're made of the right material.  To that end Xavier has defeated Utah, who came into the contest 7-2 by a 77-69 tally.  Then defeated an 8-2 Wake Forest in the Skip Prosser Classic in a hard fought 69-65 win on Saturday.

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Eastern Washington was 8-3 entering the Cintas Center but had just taken a 70-48 beating at Northern Kentucky on Sunday.

For 11 minutes the Eagles soared over the Musketeers with an 11 point lead.

"We we the better team for about 15 minutes," head coach Jim Hayford quipped after the Musketeers completed an 85-56 win.

Edmond Sumner connected on a three-point shot and the rest of the night Xavier showed why they were ranked among the top teams in the nation.

"I was more worried about how I played on defense," Sumner said. "I had a lot of energy out there. I think I sparked us on defense and opened us up on offense. I made the right plays and let the game come to me."

The Musketeers caught the Eagles at the on three's by Treyvon Bluiett and Kaiser Gates to take a 30-28 lead at the 3:31 mark.  Gates closed out the half with a three and the Musketeers led by 16 by halftime.

"They were 6-for-6 from three point range to close out the half," Hayford said.  "When they shoot the ball that well they are an unbeatable team.  They showed why they are in the top 10."

Bluiett led Xaver 10-2 with 16 points. Sumner finished with 14. J.P Macura added 12.  Gates 4 three point shots gave him 12 for the game. Malcom Bernard chipped in with 10.  Macura led the Musketeers with six rebounds which accounted for the Musketeers 36-30 rebounding edge.

"Overall that's the best I've felt," said Gates who is recovery from injury. "I felt more loose than I usually do, a little more bouncy."

Jacob Wiley led Eastern Washington 8-4 with 16 points. Felix Von Hofe was next with nine points