NCAAB Game Recap - Xavier at UConn
Fri Nov 22, 2019 9:30 PM EST

GTown
73
Duke
81
F
GMas
63
MD
86
F
MtStM
62
KY
82
F
IPFW
46
OhSt
85
F
Hou
66
Oreg
78
F
UtSt
80
LSU
78
F
Vill
83
MissSt
76
F
Xav
75
UConn
74
F(2OT)
Tex
62
Cal
45
F
Baylor
77
CoCar
65
F
Mont
56
Wash
73
F
Lib
89
Morg
48
F
Nich
54
NCAT
66
F
MTSU
74
Tul
86
F
Mia-FL
58
Fla
78
F
BethC
83
InWor
58
F
Valpa
78
GrCan
74
F
UNCW
46
Clev
47
F
Rice
75
WIMil
69
F
E MI
62
UMBC
45
F
MOSt
71
StJos
69
F
Ford
60
Nev
74
F
(N/A)
47
E IL
87
F
E KY
70
FIU
89
F
IndSt
72
LoyMa
60
F
URI
60
N TX
47
F
UMKC
74
GrgWas
68
F
Presb
57
SacHr
83
F
IlSt
65
Cin
66
F
Stetsn
55
Iona
60
F
Duques
69
AF
63
F
(N/A)
45
Furm
90
F
Tows
73
Buff
76
F
Boston
44
WVU
69
F
MorSt
50
Butl
68
F
Radf
61
Brad
70
F
GWebb
69
SouthCar
74
F
McNee
57
Rich
87
F
Lipsco
65
Navy
61
F
HCU
68
Mich
111
F
Harv
82
HolyC
74
F
(N/A)
71
SEMO
72
F
GASt
83
PVAM
74
F
N AL
61
LaTec
82
F
Albany
69
Quin
86
F
Wake
82
David
70
F
Ohio
66
Utah
80
F
S NO
53
JackSt
72
F
(N/A)
68
UTSA
90
F
W MI
63
OkSt
70
F
Evans
68
ECU
85
F
Norf
59
NW
70
F
South
86
Nebras
93
F(OT)
BGSU
77
W Ky
75
F
KennSt
40
Monm
71
F
CAPoly
70
Crei
86
F
SCSt
60
Vand
97
F
SDak
56
Ark
77
F
CenAR
98
CBU
104
F(OT)
IdaSt
65
SCla
78
F
LIU
64
SDSU
81
F
FrePa
62
LongB
93
F
Temp
70
USC
61
F

Xavier 75, UConn 74

Nov 22, 2019, 9:30 PM EST

Final (2OT)

1

2

OT

2OT

T

(18) Xavier

31

25

9

10

75

UConn

21

35

9

9

74

Carter’s foul shots in 2OT lift No. 18 Xavier past UConn
Sat Nov 23, 2019 1:40 AM

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) Xavier seems to face a test almost every time it plays. The good thing for the 18th-ranked Musketeers is they have passed them all in their undefeated start.

Jason Carter hit two foul shots with 10.1 seconds left in the second overtime and Xavier survived once more with a 75-74 victory over UConn and into the Charleston Classic championship on Friday night.

The escape against the Huskies (3-2) was simply the latest in a series of close calls. Xavier (6-0) needed overtime to beat Missouri, then held on against Missouri State 59-56 in the next game.

"This year we all came together, we all want to win, we all have one goal," Xavier's Naji Marshall said. "It's never say die. That's just what it is. We find a way."

That's how it's been so far.

"It's one of the oddest games I've ever been a part of, that's for sure," Xavier coach Travis Steele said.

UConn had a final chance after Carter's free throws, but Alterique Gilbert slipped driving to the bucket and Christian Vital's desperation shot fell short of the basket as the horn sounded on a raucous, dramatic contest between future Big East Conference rivals.

"Credit that defense, they're well coached," Gilbert said. "It's a tough loss."

Marshall led the Musketeers with 21 points and Paul Scruggs had 19. But neither of them were around at the end after fouling out in what became a game of attrition.

Tyrique Jones had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Xavier, which will face Florida for the tournament title Sunday night.

UConn will play another program with past Big East ties - the Huskies are set to re-enter the league next year - in Miami for third place Sunday.

The Musketeers looked finished in regulation after Tyler Polley hit a 3-pointer to extend the Huskies' lead to 54-49 with 96 seconds left. That's when Marshall, the 6-foot-7 junior, took over in scoring 13 of his team's next 14 points.

UConn had a final chance to win before overtime, but Jones skied high to block Gilbert's driving attempt.

Freshman James Bouknight looked like he'd be the hero for UConn, tying things with a three-point play at the end of the first overtime, then putting his team ahead 74-73 with a basket with 20.6 seconds to go.

But it was Bouknight who fouled Carter moments later to set up the final points. Bouknight, playing his second college game, led the Huskies with 19 points.

This was gritty, hard-fought, back-and-forth contest - like you'd expect from teams who'll see each other plenty once UConn rejoins the Big East Conference next year. And the fans were into it as well.

Both Xavier and UConn have had strong followings the first two games and the Charleston arena and the yelling was loud on both sides as chants of "Let's Go Huskies" merged with "Let's Go X". The Musketeer fans continually took up the dog-like bark to urge their team on defense.

It sure did the trick the first 20 minutes as Xavier held the Huskies to their worst-shooting half of the young season at 29.7 percent (8 of 27). UConn had nine turnovers the first half, not far from the 12 a game they averaged coming in.

The Musketeers really dug in with about seven minutes left after Tyler Polley drew UConn to 18-17. That's when Xavier closed the period with a 13-4 surge. Scruggs have five points and Jones four during the run as UConn shot just 2 for 11.

BIG PICTURE

UConn: The Huskies were trying to defeat their second ranked opponent in less than a week after beating then-No. 15 Florida 62-59. Bouknight can help UConn play at the level it used to if he continues to develop.

Xavier: The Musketeers showed a grit necessary to succeed despite losing three starters to foul trouble. Steele says it's his team's resiliency "even when things don't go the way we wanted."

STRUGGLING STARTERS

Four of UConn's starters struggled with their shots against Xavier. Vital, Gilbert, Polley and Akok Akok were a combined 8 of 38 from the field. Huskies coach Danny Hurley believes his team has to find more consistency going forward.

UP NEXT

UConn will play Miami in the third-place game on Sunday.

Xavier will take on Florida for the Charleston Classic title Sunday night.

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For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and http://twitter.com/AP-Top25

Leaders

Xavier PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
N. Marshall 21 0 2 5 1 0
P. Scruggs 19 0 2 5 1 1
UConn PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
J. Bouknight 19 0 0 4 2 0
A. Gilbert 14 0 5 6 0 0

Team Comparison

Xav UConn
Points For 75 74
Field Goals 25/66-38% 21/70-30%
Three Pointers 9/24-38% 7/23-30%
Free Throws 16/26-62% 25/27-93%
Offensive Rebounds 16 16
Defensive Rebounds 33 29
Rebounds 54 51
Blocks 9 6
Steals 7 8
Turnovers 21 16
Personal Fouls 26 24
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2019-20 Reg Season - Xav Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Fri Nov 22 Xav 75 @ UConn 74 N. Marshall 21 J. Bouknight 19

Game Information

Stadium: TD Arena, Charleston, South Carolina
Attendance: 4,416
Game Time: