Newark, NJ – After a four -day break well necessary following a loaded February calendar, the Xavier Musketeers returned on Sunday and survived a fear against Seton Hall at the Prudential Center with a 73-66 victory.
Xavier led by 21 points in the second half, but Seton Hall reduced the three -time advance in the last minutes.
Xavier escaped with his ability to beat the press and eliminate free throws and has now won four successful games in play Big East for the first time since a 7-0 departure in 2023.
Although an additional quad 3 victory does not take into account the chances of Xavier to make the NCAA tournament, it was always a necessary victory against an annoying team of Seton Hall which upset Uconn in the same building eight days ago .
A defeat against Seton Hall would have been catastrophic for the aspirations of the madness of Xavier’s March.
Xavier (18-10, 10-7 Big East) retains the unique possession of fifth place in the conference. The 5 best teams at the end of the regular season will receive a bye in the first round in the Big East tournament.
Observations of Xavier Musketeers’ victory on Seton Hall Pirates
Xavier avoids a scary Sunday in Newark
Xavier led by 21 at the beginning of the second half, but a defense of Seton Hall which ranks n ° 19 in the country as a percentage of turnover made life difficult for musketeers in the section.
Xavier committed 11 of his 18 reversals in the second period and went only 7 out of 17 on the field in the last 20 minutes.
Fortunately for visiting musketeers, Seton Hall had big difficulties early and Xavier turned free throws for the majority of the second half. Xavier went 17 out of 23 on the free throw line in the second half to conclude the agreement.
Ryan Conwell led Xavier with 22 points on a 5 out of 7 shot, including four 3 points and a broadcast of 8 for 8 on the band. Conwell ‘had a triple trio in the last three minutes of the first half to give Xavier a 40-21 lead at the break. The biggest shot from Conwell night was a triple to the 58-second brand to bring the advantage of Xavier to 68-62.
Dante Maddox Jr. (12) and Zach Freemantle (11) joined Conwell two -digit. Dailyn Swain collected 6 points and 6 rebounds while Marcus Foster added 8 points.
Xavier obtains the production of the bench
By dragging 10-6 during the first-time died of the game media, Dante Maddox Jr. recorded for Xavier and immediately struck a 3-point pointer from the wing of an outstanding set.
The three regulars of Xavier on the bench – Maddox, Jerome Hunter and John Hugley – each bound from the distance to the first half.
Maddox overturned 7 out of 8 on the free throw line to finish with 12 to go with 3 interceptions. He has now scored 62 points in his last three games on the road. Hunter finished with 5 points and 5 rebounds.
Xavier’s defense responds after a call for early awakening
Seton Hall took a momentum early Sunday behind eight points, including a pair of three points, of the top scorer Isaiah Coleman.
Xavier dragged 13-9 before his defense begins to wreak havoc and crush the glass.
Xavier forced 8 Seton Hall reversals in the first half and transformed them into 12 points at the other end. It was important for Xavier to accelerate a Seton Hall team that ranks n ° 337 in Kenpom in Tempo.
Seton Hall only took 8 out of 27 on the field in the first 20 minutes and Xavier won the Battle of Rebound, 18-10. Xavier held the pirates at only six points in the last 11:20.
The second half was another story while Seton Hall drew 53.6% on the ground and scored 13 reversal points to escape the deficit. Isaiah Coleman led the pirates with 24 on 8 shots out of 16.
Zach Freemantle has a healthy return to the prudential center
Zach Freemantle, from Teaneck, in New Jersey, had only played on the road against Seton Hall twice during his career due to injuries and a Covid cancellation.
In these two competitions, Freemantle combined for only 9 points and 4 rebounds in 48 minutes. Xavier went 1-1 in these competitions, including a then turned upside down. 10 Seton Hall in 2020.
Freemantle had only two points at half-time, but struck big blows when Xavier needed it in the second period. Freemantle made four of the seven goals on Xavier’s field in the second half, including a 3 -point corner at the end of the chronometer.
Freemantle (11 points, 7 rebounds) has now scored two figures in the 25 games in which he appeared this season.
Xavier returns to the Cintas Center on Saturday
Xavier has Bye in the middle of the week in the Big East this week before going home on Saturday to welcome Creighton.
Xavier has a 13-2 file at the Cintas Center this season and won five games in a row.
Creighton (18-8, 11-4 Big East) won three consecutive clashes on Xavier after having removed a 86-77 on the musketeers in Omaha last month.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Xavier Musketeers wins on Seton Hall Big East Basketball Analysis
(Tagstotranslate) Xavier Musketeers (T) Seton Hall (T) Xavier Basketball (T) Zach Freemantle (T) Prudential Center
