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11-29-2009, 09:41 PM
Xavier unable to capitalize, solve zone in loss to Baylor, 69-64
by Mike Damone
Before the season began, the team’s trip to Orlando was viewed as an early chance for Xavier to make a statement and reclaim its place in the national rankings before the end of November. Unfortunately for the Musketeers, the Old Spice Classic will be viewed as an opportunity missed, falling to 1-2 in the tournament as Xavier stumbled against the Baylor Bears (6-1) in a game in which it had many chances to take control.
The Musketeers (4-2) shot just 37 percent from the field over the Baylor zone and went just 11-for-21 from the line in a game that was close throughout. And on the occasions when the Musketeers managed to cut into the Bears’ lead, Xavier’s defense was unable to get a stop as Baylor would often answer with a big shot to cripple Xavier’s momentum.
With just over eight minutes to go, junior Jamel McLean (17 pts, 5 reb) went to the line for a one-and-one with Xavier trailing by one, 46-45, but missed the front end. Just a few seconds later, Baylor’s Josh Lomers (8 pts, 3 reb) answered at the other end to extend Baylor’s lead.
Sophomore Terrell Holloway (6 points) cut Baylor’s lead to just one again off a pair of free throws with 7:46 to go, and Xavier would get the ball back twice with a chance to take the lead, but the Musketeers couldn’t capitalize before Baylor’s LaceDarius Dunn (9 pts, 7 reb) stretched Baylor’s lead back to four with a three with just under six minutes to go.
Sophomore Mark Lyons (8 pts, 3 reb, 5 ast) knocked down a triple to cut Xavier’s deficit to three, 57-54, with 2:13 left. After an empty Baylor possession, Jordan Crawford (16 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast) was fouled and went to the line, but made good on only the first attempt.
And with just over a minute to go, McLean scored inside to cut Xavier’s lead to just one, 58-57, but the pesky Tweety Carter (27 pts, 5 ast) knocked down another three at the other end with just 34 seconds remaining.
Yet again, Xavier was put at the line with a chance to keep the game close, but Holloway missed on the second attempt to effectively squelch Xavier’s threat. Unlike the Musketeers, who were rendered helpless to watch, Baylor capitalized on their attempts from the charity stripe, going 8-for-8 in the game’s waning moments to walk away with the victory.
The Musketeers couldn’t get much going in the game’s opening minutes, as Baylor raced out to an 11-0 lead, thanks to two three’s from Carter, who was a continuous thorn in the side of the Musketeers. Xavier answered with a 9-0 run over the next four minutes, capped by a three and jumper from Crawford.
A lay-up by Quincy Acy (2 pts, 3 reb) pushed Baylor’s lead back to 7, 20-13, but Xavier answered again with an 8-0 run capped by a triple from Lyons to give the Musketeers their first lead, 21-20, with 5:40 to go in the first half.
Carter put Baylor back up with a mid-range jumper, 26-25, with 4:10 to go, before both teams went ice cold for the duration of the first half and the score would remain until the intermission.
McLean gave Xavier its final lead, 32-30, of the game with a lay-up off his own miss with 17:18 to go. Lomers would tied it up just seconds later, and the Musketeers’ futility began, as they were unable to string together a sustainable run to pull away from the mistake-prone Bears who committed 18 turnovers to Xavier’s nine.
McLean and Crawford led the Xavier scoring in the losing effort with 17 and 16, respectively. Baylor was led by Carter’s 27, as well as 15 points and nine rebounds from Ekpe Udoh. The Bears also mauled the Musketeers on the boards, 42-34.
Obviously disappointed with the 1-2 finish in Orlando, Xavier will now have time to assess its many areas for improvement until it faces off against the Kent State Golden Flashes on Friday night in Cincinnati. The Golden Flashes (5-2) are coming off a 63-57 win over Morehead State.
by Mike Damone
Before the season began, the team’s trip to Orlando was viewed as an early chance for Xavier to make a statement and reclaim its place in the national rankings before the end of November. Unfortunately for the Musketeers, the Old Spice Classic will be viewed as an opportunity missed, falling to 1-2 in the tournament as Xavier stumbled against the Baylor Bears (6-1) in a game in which it had many chances to take control.
The Musketeers (4-2) shot just 37 percent from the field over the Baylor zone and went just 11-for-21 from the line in a game that was close throughout. And on the occasions when the Musketeers managed to cut into the Bears’ lead, Xavier’s defense was unable to get a stop as Baylor would often answer with a big shot to cripple Xavier’s momentum.
With just over eight minutes to go, junior Jamel McLean (17 pts, 5 reb) went to the line for a one-and-one with Xavier trailing by one, 46-45, but missed the front end. Just a few seconds later, Baylor’s Josh Lomers (8 pts, 3 reb) answered at the other end to extend Baylor’s lead.
Sophomore Terrell Holloway (6 points) cut Baylor’s lead to just one again off a pair of free throws with 7:46 to go, and Xavier would get the ball back twice with a chance to take the lead, but the Musketeers couldn’t capitalize before Baylor’s LaceDarius Dunn (9 pts, 7 reb) stretched Baylor’s lead back to four with a three with just under six minutes to go.
Sophomore Mark Lyons (8 pts, 3 reb, 5 ast) knocked down a triple to cut Xavier’s deficit to three, 57-54, with 2:13 left. After an empty Baylor possession, Jordan Crawford (16 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast) was fouled and went to the line, but made good on only the first attempt.
And with just over a minute to go, McLean scored inside to cut Xavier’s lead to just one, 58-57, but the pesky Tweety Carter (27 pts, 5 ast) knocked down another three at the other end with just 34 seconds remaining.
Yet again, Xavier was put at the line with a chance to keep the game close, but Holloway missed on the second attempt to effectively squelch Xavier’s threat. Unlike the Musketeers, who were rendered helpless to watch, Baylor capitalized on their attempts from the charity stripe, going 8-for-8 in the game’s waning moments to walk away with the victory.
The Musketeers couldn’t get much going in the game’s opening minutes, as Baylor raced out to an 11-0 lead, thanks to two three’s from Carter, who was a continuous thorn in the side of the Musketeers. Xavier answered with a 9-0 run over the next four minutes, capped by a three and jumper from Crawford.
A lay-up by Quincy Acy (2 pts, 3 reb) pushed Baylor’s lead back to 7, 20-13, but Xavier answered again with an 8-0 run capped by a triple from Lyons to give the Musketeers their first lead, 21-20, with 5:40 to go in the first half.
Carter put Baylor back up with a mid-range jumper, 26-25, with 4:10 to go, before both teams went ice cold for the duration of the first half and the score would remain until the intermission.
McLean gave Xavier its final lead, 32-30, of the game with a lay-up off his own miss with 17:18 to go. Lomers would tied it up just seconds later, and the Musketeers’ futility began, as they were unable to string together a sustainable run to pull away from the mistake-prone Bears who committed 18 turnovers to Xavier’s nine.
McLean and Crawford led the Xavier scoring in the losing effort with 17 and 16, respectively. Baylor was led by Carter’s 27, as well as 15 points and nine rebounds from Ekpe Udoh. The Bears also mauled the Musketeers on the boards, 42-34.
Obviously disappointed with the 1-2 finish in Orlando, Xavier will now have time to assess its many areas for improvement until it faces off against the Kent State Golden Flashes on Friday night in Cincinnati. The Golden Flashes (5-2) are coming off a 63-57 win over Morehead State.