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11-20-2008, 09:41 PM
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj89/xhoops/42386e0a-073b-4400-b858-68272f0de3b.jpgXavier survives Mizzou press, holds on against Tigers, 75-71
By Mike Damone
The Musketeers passed their first test at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico on Thursday afternoon. Beforehand it was uncertain how Xavier’s young backcourt would handle the relentless full-court press of the Missouri Tigers (2-1).
Early in the game, it appeared the Mizzou pressure would prevent Xavier (3-0) from pulling away and advancing to Friday’s game against Virginia Tech, and with just over seven minutes to play and Mizzou leading 63-56, it looked like that would be the case. As expected, Mizzou’s defense frustrated Xavier, forcing the Musketeers into 20 turnovers.
But when it came to crunch time, Xavier leaned on something they could actually control: free throws. After Mizzou took their largest lead of the game, 63-56, Xavier went on what first appeared to be a modest 8-4 run – all coming from the free-throw line – but would be a harbinger for the outcome.
Appropriately, freshman guard Terrell Holloway, who had committed a handful of turnovers to zero assists to start his Xavier career, was the hero at the line for Xavier, going a perfect 10-for-10 from the stripe to finish with 12 points and the first two assists of his career. Senior BJ Raymond also came up big from the line while Xavier was trying to keep things close throughout the second half, going 8-for-10 from the stripe.
Xavier trailed by four with just over two minutes remaining, before sophomore Dante Jackson (8 pts, 3 reb) knocked down a three over the Mizzou zone to trim Xavier’s deficit to one, 70-69. Jackson then fouled Tiger DeMarre Carroll (17 pts, 3 reb), sending him to the line for two and an opportunity to put some distance between the Tigers and Musketeers.
Carroll would miss both, and freshman Brad Redford (7 points) pulled down a critical rebound with just 1:38 to play. Carroll would soon foul Holloway, sending him to the line with the chance to give Xavier the lead. Holloway connected on both...and then his next four, providing the final margin. The decisive 6-1 run all came from the free throw line, and all from Holloway.
In the meantime, Missouri went 1-for-4 from the line, and missed both of their field goal attempts. Xavier, on the other hand, was perfect from the line down the stretch, and was able to collect key defensive rebounds off the Tiger misses. Xavier finished the game 30-of-41 on free throws to Missouri’s 15-for-31. Xavier also out-rebounded the Tigers 39-24, with 29 of these coming on the defensive glass. Sophomore Jamel McLean (6 pts, 9 reb) pulled in six defensive rebounds, while junior Derrick Brown (16 pts, 7 reb) pulled down five.
The Musketeers began the game exchanging baskets with the Tigers, though Xavier had their opportunities to build a lead. Missouri’s press kept this from happening. Just under five minutes into the game, Xavier had six points to five turnovers. Brown lead off the game with a three from the top of the key, and after Mizzou’s Matt Lawrence (9 pts) answered with a three of his own, CJ Anderson (6 pts, 4 reb) scored in traffic underneath to give Xavier a 5-3 lead.
Mizzou would later take a 14-10 lead off a Leo Lyons jumper, but Xavier would score five unanswered with a Brown lay-up and a quick, catch-and-shoot three from freshman Brad Redford (7 points), giving Xavier a 15-14 edge. A lay-up from McLean and a pair of free throws from Jackson gave Xavier a 20-15 lead, but Mizzou would regain the lead off a Zaire Taylor (8 pts, 5 reb) three, 24-22. It was nip-and-tuck the rest of the opening half, before Brown buried another three just before the halftime to give Xavier a 35-32 lead.
Missouri extended its lead to six for the first time off a Carroll jumper, 49-43, with 12:25 left in the second half, but a 7-0 run, culminated by a Redford three, gave Xavier the lead back, 50-49. Mizzou would again extend their lead to the largest of the game, 63-56, before Xavier ultimately chipped away from the free-throw line, and took the lead for good.
Thursday’s win over Missouri spawns a huge opportunity for Xavier. Now, the Musketeers will play another “Big 6” team in the Virginia Tech Hokies (3-0) on Friday at 1:30 p.m. If Xavier is victorious, they could get a potential match-up with defending national runner-up, the #12 Memphis Tigers (3-0) in the Championship of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Hokies are coming off a 74-57 victory over Fairfield.
By Mike Damone
The Musketeers passed their first test at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico on Thursday afternoon. Beforehand it was uncertain how Xavier’s young backcourt would handle the relentless full-court press of the Missouri Tigers (2-1).
Early in the game, it appeared the Mizzou pressure would prevent Xavier (3-0) from pulling away and advancing to Friday’s game against Virginia Tech, and with just over seven minutes to play and Mizzou leading 63-56, it looked like that would be the case. As expected, Mizzou’s defense frustrated Xavier, forcing the Musketeers into 20 turnovers.
But when it came to crunch time, Xavier leaned on something they could actually control: free throws. After Mizzou took their largest lead of the game, 63-56, Xavier went on what first appeared to be a modest 8-4 run – all coming from the free-throw line – but would be a harbinger for the outcome.
Appropriately, freshman guard Terrell Holloway, who had committed a handful of turnovers to zero assists to start his Xavier career, was the hero at the line for Xavier, going a perfect 10-for-10 from the stripe to finish with 12 points and the first two assists of his career. Senior BJ Raymond also came up big from the line while Xavier was trying to keep things close throughout the second half, going 8-for-10 from the stripe.
Xavier trailed by four with just over two minutes remaining, before sophomore Dante Jackson (8 pts, 3 reb) knocked down a three over the Mizzou zone to trim Xavier’s deficit to one, 70-69. Jackson then fouled Tiger DeMarre Carroll (17 pts, 3 reb), sending him to the line for two and an opportunity to put some distance between the Tigers and Musketeers.
Carroll would miss both, and freshman Brad Redford (7 points) pulled down a critical rebound with just 1:38 to play. Carroll would soon foul Holloway, sending him to the line with the chance to give Xavier the lead. Holloway connected on both...and then his next four, providing the final margin. The decisive 6-1 run all came from the free throw line, and all from Holloway.
In the meantime, Missouri went 1-for-4 from the line, and missed both of their field goal attempts. Xavier, on the other hand, was perfect from the line down the stretch, and was able to collect key defensive rebounds off the Tiger misses. Xavier finished the game 30-of-41 on free throws to Missouri’s 15-for-31. Xavier also out-rebounded the Tigers 39-24, with 29 of these coming on the defensive glass. Sophomore Jamel McLean (6 pts, 9 reb) pulled in six defensive rebounds, while junior Derrick Brown (16 pts, 7 reb) pulled down five.
The Musketeers began the game exchanging baskets with the Tigers, though Xavier had their opportunities to build a lead. Missouri’s press kept this from happening. Just under five minutes into the game, Xavier had six points to five turnovers. Brown lead off the game with a three from the top of the key, and after Mizzou’s Matt Lawrence (9 pts) answered with a three of his own, CJ Anderson (6 pts, 4 reb) scored in traffic underneath to give Xavier a 5-3 lead.
Mizzou would later take a 14-10 lead off a Leo Lyons jumper, but Xavier would score five unanswered with a Brown lay-up and a quick, catch-and-shoot three from freshman Brad Redford (7 points), giving Xavier a 15-14 edge. A lay-up from McLean and a pair of free throws from Jackson gave Xavier a 20-15 lead, but Mizzou would regain the lead off a Zaire Taylor (8 pts, 5 reb) three, 24-22. It was nip-and-tuck the rest of the opening half, before Brown buried another three just before the halftime to give Xavier a 35-32 lead.
Missouri extended its lead to six for the first time off a Carroll jumper, 49-43, with 12:25 left in the second half, but a 7-0 run, culminated by a Redford three, gave Xavier the lead back, 50-49. Mizzou would again extend their lead to the largest of the game, 63-56, before Xavier ultimately chipped away from the free-throw line, and took the lead for good.
Thursday’s win over Missouri spawns a huge opportunity for Xavier. Now, the Musketeers will play another “Big 6” team in the Virginia Tech Hokies (3-0) on Friday at 1:30 p.m. If Xavier is victorious, they could get a potential match-up with defending national runner-up, the #12 Memphis Tigers (3-0) in the Championship of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Hokies are coming off a 74-57 victory over Fairfield.