NCAAB Game Recap - Evansville at Xavier
Sat Nov 10, 2018 4:00 PM EST

TXSo
67
Gonz
104
F
Quin
53
Vill
86
F
MorSt
70
Syr
84
F
HolyC
37
Mich
56
F
Ball
75
Purd
84
F
Charl
77
WCU
74
F
MD-ES
49
NCSU
95
F
Tuskg
55
FlaAM
62
F
(N/A)
52
ULM
94
F
Merrim
84
UMassL
88
F(OT)
E IL
65
IUPUI
71
F
(N/A)
45
UMBC
93
F
JackSt
36
StBon
67
F
JU
82
NoAZ
97
F
SEMO
57
Brad
68
F
Woff
68
HiPt
60
F
NCAT
78
Wake
90
F
(N/A)
56
W IL
84
F
Wyo
64
OrSt
83
F
AlaAM
54
Hou
101
F
Lafy
77
LaSal
76
F
Brev
43
USC-Up
86
F
Evans
85
Xav
91
F
BethC
59
Marq
92
F
ArkPB
67
ColSt
92
F
TNSt
79
Lipsco
86
F
OkSt
64
UNCC
66
F
W MI
64
Miss
90
F
SCSt
52
Tuls
74
F
YSU
69
Akr
98
F
(N/A)
53
CS-Ful
106
F
(N/A)
63
SDSt
86
F
Maine
50
USF
93
F
W&M
70
Duques
84
F
CenCT
78
GTown
85
F
South
53
Baylor
80
F
Del
78
StPet
75
F(OT)
Presb
80
TNTec
65
F
(N/A)
46
Norf
74
F
E KY
81
Chat
78
F
(N/A)
57
LongB
78
F
Mia-O
68
Butl
90
F
Fairf
60
Buck
58
F
UND
63
WIMil
60
F
TN-M
71
W Ky
86
F
Wilbe
58
Toled
99
F
Colum
76
Maris
82
F
Copp
46
Dayt
76
F
Kent
83
Clev
79
F
TXTyl
54
InWor
66
F
Ford
72
HCU
75
F
NrthIA
65
TexAr
74
F
IlSt
89
Belm
100
F
Winth
94
SIU-E
82
F
Troy
58
StLou
62
F
WriSt
54
Murr
73
F
DelSt
47
GrCan
89
F
S UT
66
SJSU
59
F
IdaSt
72
Bois
70
F
LoyMa
61
UNLV
50
F
UCRiv
64
PorSt
71
F
Portl
73
N TX
78
F
(N/A)
54
HI
90
F
CSNor
Pepp
PPD

Nov 10, 2018, 4:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

Evansville

45

40

85

Xavier

49

42

91

Scruggs, Jones lead Xavier to 91-85 win over Evansville
Sat Nov 10, 2018 7:24 PM

CINCINNATI (AP) Xavier's big men made the difference against Evansville's hoist-it-up Purple Aces

Paul Scruggs had a career-high 24 points, Tyrique Jones added a career-high 20 rebounds and tied his career high with 19 points and the Musketeers held off Evansville 91-85 on Saturday.

Zach Hankins scored nine of his 14 points in the second half, including a run of seven straight capped by a dunk that gave Xavier (2-0) the lead for good at 66-65 with 13:27 left in the game

The 6-foot-11 Hankins and 6-9 Scruggs dominated inside against an Evansville team that didn't put a player taller than 6-7 on the court. The Musketeers had a whopping 51-22 advantage on the boards. The Musketeers finished with 19 offensive rebounds, matching the Purple Aces' defensive rebounds and leading to advantages of 44-18 in points in the paint and 15-0 in fast break points.

"We're bigger and stronger than they were," first-year Xavier coach Travis Steele. "We should dominate on the glass."

Scruggs and Jones teamed up to score the last 20 Xavier points in the final 10 minutes, helping open a double-figure lead.

"We were just trying to give the team energy," said Scruggs, who also tied career highs with eight field goals and four blocked shots. "I think we did that today."

Shea Feehan and K.J. Riley each scored 20 point to lead six players in double figures for Evansville (0-2). The Purple Aces tied the school record for 3-pointers in a game with 17 and fell two short of tying the record for 3-point attempts. Both previous records were set on Jan. 7, 1997.

"Give some credit to Evansville," Jones said. "They made some tough shots."

The Purple Aces didn't do anything unexpected by Steele.

"They made a lot of shots - some contested, some wide open," Steele said. "We were disappointed at the defensive end. We've got to be better in man-to-man and zone. Thirty-three 3's are too many. We knew they were a drive-and-kick team.

"Offensively, we played like we wanted to play. This group won't ever have trouble scoring."

Quentin Goodin scored all of his 14 points in the first and Scruggs added 10, helping Xavier lead by 15 twice in the first half before Feehan and Riley each scored five points during a 17-6 Purple Aces run that pared the Musketeers' lead to 49-45 at halftime.

BIG PICTURE

Evansville: Former Kentucky star and Celtics assistant coach Walter McCarty is the new coach. ... The Purple Aces were picked to finish last in the Missouri Valley Conference with just two starters back.

Xavier: Goodin made his first appearance after missing a month of pre-season practice with a dislocated left shoulder. He played with a black brace on the injured shoulder before being ejected with 15:10 left in the second half after being whistled for a flagrant foul.

RARE AIR

Jones' 20 rebounds are the most by a Musketeer since David West grabbed 21 against George Washington on Feb. 3, 2001.

RARE AIR II

Evansville's 17 3-pointers are a Xavier record for 3-pointers by an opponent. The previous record of 16 was set last season by Villanova, which went on to win the national championship.

SHARING THE LOAD

The last time Evansville finished with six players in double figures was on Nov. 15, 2014, against Earlham.

UP NEXT

Evansville: Hosts Kentucky Wesleyan on Thursday.

Xavier: Hosts Wisconsin on Tuesday.

Leaders

Evansville PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
K. Riley 20 0 6 4 1 1
S. Feehan 20 0 3 3 1 0
Xavier PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
P. Scruggs 24 0 5 6 1 0
T. Jones 19 0 2 20 1 4

Team Comparison

Evans Xav
Points For 85 91
Field Goals 27/59-46% 32/62-52%
Three Pointers 17/33-52% 10/22-45%
Free Throws 14/18-78% 17/31-55%
Offensive Rebounds 3 19
Defensive Rebounds 19 32
Rebounds 22 55
Blocks 1 6
Steals 5 4
Turnovers 9 12
Personal Fouls 25 21
Technical Fouls 1 2
Ejections 0 0

2018-19 Reg Season - Xav Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Sat Nov 10 Evans 85 @ Xav 91 K. Riley 20 P. Scruggs 24

Game Information

Stadium: Cintas Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Attendance: 10,533
Game Time: