Musketeers Go Into Crosstown Shootout Hot After Dispatching Ohio

The Xavier Musketeers didn't take the Ohio Bobcats for granted instead they started the game with a 15-5 spurt cruised.  The Musketeers have the annual Crosstown Shootout with the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday.

Xavier picked up its fourth straight win over Ohio (5-2) with a 82-61 pull-away win.  Ohio trailed by just 65-60 with six minutes left but an 20-0 run put the game out of reach but lost Tyrique Jones late in the game.

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Paul Scruggs took over the game for the Musketeers, scoring 21 points to stake the Musketeers (6-3) to a 10-point lead. Scruggs, however, picked up his fourth foul at the 7:00 mark.  The Bobcats took advantage and cut the lead in half after being held scoreless for close to four minutes.

"I'm really proud of Paul Scruggs with Quentin Goodin out. He had 21 points and eight assists," Xavier coach Travis Steele said.  "We needed guys to step up.  Quentin was sick this week.  I told him I wanted him to play but I didn't want to put him in harm's way."

Scruggs didn't find out he was going to take the ball at the point until late this afternoon.

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"I knew for sure probably an hour and a half before the game started. It was like even without Q, we've got to execute plays and play good on defense," Scruggs played.
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Xavier mixed defenses that confused Ohio.

"We showed some potential," Ohio coach Saul Phillips said.  "We were right in the game when we had three consecutive turnovers against their zone.  They do a great job of creating them but I think we can do a better job of protecting the basketball.  That was really the turning point."

"From there we were playing catch up.  You're down 10 and taking quicker shots rather than moving the ball well like we were doing early in the game."

The Bobcats were beat on defense at times in the game.

"Defensively, our rotations weren't terrific," Phillips said.  "We were good for about 25 minutes.  They are battle tested.  They certainly weren't afraid of us, that's for sure."

Veterans Marshall and Jones took control of the offense and stretched the lead to 71-60 at the four minute time out.

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Ryan Welage, starting in place of the injured Quentin Goodin, connected on a 3-point shot on the first possession.   With Xavier connecting of four three's in five attempts, they opened a cushion but turned cold and threw the ball away.

By the 6:13 Ohio Jason Carter capped an 8-0 run with a layup the brought the visitors within a point.

Ohio missed on two attempts to take a lead but Elias Harden stopped the slide with a layup.

Ohio managed to take a one-point lead at the 4:00 mark with an athletic layup by Gavin  Block.  Ohio took its largest lead when Doug Taylor followed a miss by Marshall.

Marshall's first points of the game put the Musketeers within a point at 34-33.  He missed with 1.4 seconds with Xavier recovering on a team rebound but a clock malfunction was investigated.  The review gave the Bobcats the ball with a second left. Marshall scored on a short jumper and  Xavier  led by a point, 35-34 at the half.

Jones had to leave the game at the 2:11 mark. He left with 15 points and four rebounds.  Marshall scored 17 for the game. Castlin had 10.

Carter led the Bobcats with 17.