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11-18-2009, 12:11 AM
Xavier offense continues roll in rout of Falcons, 101-57
by Mike Damone
In a college basketball season, it can sometimes take a few games for a team to come into its own in certain aspects of its game. Apparently, offense has come rather quickly for the young Musketeers under new coach Chris Mack.
While upper-echelon teams across the country have struggled to put away lesser competition, Xavier has made the most of such opportunities in thumping its first two opponents, the latest being the MAC contender Bowling Green State Falcons (1-1), 101-57, Tuesday night in Cincinnati.
For the second consecutive game, five Musketeers scored in double-figures in a route. And no offensive player has been more a cornerstone of this high-scoring Xavier squad than sophomore Jordan Crawford (24 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast), who in his first two games in a Musketeer uniform has lived up to the billing received from fans, media and teammates.
Crawford’s ability to hit from long-range, take the ball to the hoop, as well as distribute to his teammate and rebound has been the catalyst for Xavier’s 92-point average over its first two games. His ability to do several things – and those several things at a very high level – has played a major role in Xavier’s quick start.
In an attempt to slow down the Musketeers, the Falcons employed a zone for much of the game, which did nothing more than allow Xavier open looks from deep, where it connected at an astounding 63 percent clip (12-for-19) from three, led by four each from Crawford and sophomore Brad Redford (12 points).
It was somewhat of a nip-tuck affair between the Musketeers and Falcons throughout the game’s first few minutes with Xavier leading by just three, 11-8, five minutes in. After a lay-up by the Falcons’ Jordon Crawford (2 pts, 5 ast) cut Xavier’s lead to four, 29-25, with just under eight minutes to play in the first half, the Musketeers began to impose their will with a 22-3 run.
Sophomore guard Terrell Holloway (12 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast) and Crawford got the run going off a pair of fastbreak buckets, followed by a triple from Holloway. Sophomore Mark Lyons (10 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast) scored again in transition, and Redford capped a 12-0 run with his third three with 3:08. Redford and Crawford would each knock down another three to provide the sizable margin heading into the intermission, 51-28.
The Falcons used predominantly a man defense in the second half after Xavier rendered their zone obsolete with nine first-half threes, but this would provided little respite. Another three by Crawford quickly stretched Xavier’s lead out to 30, 61-31, just 1:23 into the second half, and the Falcons never came close to threatening.
A bucket inside from senior Jason Love (12 pts, 12 reb) got Xavier started on a 13-3 run that nudged its lead to 36, 80-44, with just under eight minutes left in the game. Freshman Jeff Robinson got in on the action with three dunks in the span of a minute to extend the Musketeer lead to 42, 95-53. A three from redshirt freshman Brian Walsh – his first points of the season – put Xavier over the century mark for the first time in two seasons, and concluded the scoring for the Musketeers.
Though Xavier’s guards had their way with the Falcon zone, Love and sophomore Kenny Frease (8 pts, 3 reb, 3 blks) had a quietly productive evening inside. Love recorded the game’s only double-double while Frease made the most of his five touches, going 4-for-5 from the field. In spite of the wealth of offense coming from his Musketeers, Mack is no doubt happier to see his team once again hold its opponent to under 40 percent shooting on the night. The Falcons also didn’t help their cause by shooting just 30 percent from the free-throw line.
Bowling Green’s go-to guy Otis Polk (11 points) was still a handful inside, but was limited due to foul trouble. Scott Thomas led the Falcons with 13 points and six rebounds, with Marc Larson adding 10 and three.
Xavier will remain in Cincinnati for its Saturday evening match-up with the Sacred Heart Pioneers. The Pioneers (2-0) are coming off an 81-70 win over Lafayette Leopards.
by Mike Damone
In a college basketball season, it can sometimes take a few games for a team to come into its own in certain aspects of its game. Apparently, offense has come rather quickly for the young Musketeers under new coach Chris Mack.
While upper-echelon teams across the country have struggled to put away lesser competition, Xavier has made the most of such opportunities in thumping its first two opponents, the latest being the MAC contender Bowling Green State Falcons (1-1), 101-57, Tuesday night in Cincinnati.
For the second consecutive game, five Musketeers scored in double-figures in a route. And no offensive player has been more a cornerstone of this high-scoring Xavier squad than sophomore Jordan Crawford (24 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast), who in his first two games in a Musketeer uniform has lived up to the billing received from fans, media and teammates.
Crawford’s ability to hit from long-range, take the ball to the hoop, as well as distribute to his teammate and rebound has been the catalyst for Xavier’s 92-point average over its first two games. His ability to do several things – and those several things at a very high level – has played a major role in Xavier’s quick start.
In an attempt to slow down the Musketeers, the Falcons employed a zone for much of the game, which did nothing more than allow Xavier open looks from deep, where it connected at an astounding 63 percent clip (12-for-19) from three, led by four each from Crawford and sophomore Brad Redford (12 points).
It was somewhat of a nip-tuck affair between the Musketeers and Falcons throughout the game’s first few minutes with Xavier leading by just three, 11-8, five minutes in. After a lay-up by the Falcons’ Jordon Crawford (2 pts, 5 ast) cut Xavier’s lead to four, 29-25, with just under eight minutes to play in the first half, the Musketeers began to impose their will with a 22-3 run.
Sophomore guard Terrell Holloway (12 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast) and Crawford got the run going off a pair of fastbreak buckets, followed by a triple from Holloway. Sophomore Mark Lyons (10 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast) scored again in transition, and Redford capped a 12-0 run with his third three with 3:08. Redford and Crawford would each knock down another three to provide the sizable margin heading into the intermission, 51-28.
The Falcons used predominantly a man defense in the second half after Xavier rendered their zone obsolete with nine first-half threes, but this would provided little respite. Another three by Crawford quickly stretched Xavier’s lead out to 30, 61-31, just 1:23 into the second half, and the Falcons never came close to threatening.
A bucket inside from senior Jason Love (12 pts, 12 reb) got Xavier started on a 13-3 run that nudged its lead to 36, 80-44, with just under eight minutes left in the game. Freshman Jeff Robinson got in on the action with three dunks in the span of a minute to extend the Musketeer lead to 42, 95-53. A three from redshirt freshman Brian Walsh – his first points of the season – put Xavier over the century mark for the first time in two seasons, and concluded the scoring for the Musketeers.
Though Xavier’s guards had their way with the Falcon zone, Love and sophomore Kenny Frease (8 pts, 3 reb, 3 blks) had a quietly productive evening inside. Love recorded the game’s only double-double while Frease made the most of his five touches, going 4-for-5 from the field. In spite of the wealth of offense coming from his Musketeers, Mack is no doubt happier to see his team once again hold its opponent to under 40 percent shooting on the night. The Falcons also didn’t help their cause by shooting just 30 percent from the free-throw line.
Bowling Green’s go-to guy Otis Polk (11 points) was still a handful inside, but was limited due to foul trouble. Scott Thomas led the Falcons with 13 points and six rebounds, with Marc Larson adding 10 and three.
Xavier will remain in Cincinnati for its Saturday evening match-up with the Sacred Heart Pioneers. The Pioneers (2-0) are coming off an 81-70 win over Lafayette Leopards.