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Muskies Pluck Hawks!! Try to Sweep 49ers Saturday!!
By
Andy Mac Williams,
2/18/2010
The Saint Joe's Hawk mascot looks newly feathered for 2010. The old costume had begun to molt at the end of last season. The Hawk kept those wings pumping for the full 40 minutes at Cintas Wednesday night as he's suppossed to. The Hawk never dies. He's on scholarship. XU just destroyed Phil Martelli's basketball team 88-52 though. The Muskies ruled inside-outrebounding SJU by a staggering 53-17 margin. It surely was the men against the boys!!
X led 14-4 at the first TV timeout with all 5 starters scoring. The Hawks changed defenses cleverly thus Muskie turnovers multiplied- limiting the XU lead to just 40-28 at the half. Xavier scored the old fashioned way-2 by 2-dunks, stick backs, lay-ups. Three pointers and free throws were hard to come by until after the break when St.Joe's just folded.
The three BIG GUYS played well again as they did at Florida. X pulled down 37 offensive rebounds against the Gators and Hawks. Both Jason Love and Jamel McLean are good for a double-double just about every night now. And Kenny Frease is developing hands and an attitude.
Jordan Crawford hit his average (20 points). Early in half two he was dumped on his butt by SJU's Garrett Wiliamson. JC took personally! He stalked Williamson down the floor and stole the ball. Actually, he did it twice leading to a pair of lay-ups. His baseline drive and dunk literally undressed two Hawk defenders. Crawford showed a baseline fall away move in the first half we had never seen before. Jordan can release his shot from any angle and almost any distance and it still has a decent chance of finding net. What a talent! What a luxury for XU!!
Mark Lyons scored 19 with four made 3-pointers. They didn't guard him and he made SJU pay. Lyons is a great on-the-ball defender and driver. When he shoots well and makes good decisions with the ball, watch out! He and Terrell Holloway become interchangeable. Lyons played great defense against Florida's jet guards then played a great game overall against SJU.
The blow-out win elevates Xavier to 9-2 in the A-10-tied for second with Temple-a half game back of Richmond (10-2). X has recorded 30 straight conference wins at Cintas. Two more "Ws" over Richmond and St. Bonnies and that's 4 entire seasons without a loss!!!
Overall, XU has 22 consecutive home victories - the third longest active win streak in Division 1. The A-10 race remains dynamic. Rhode Island (7-5 after last night's loss at Saint Louis) is out of the hunt for a first round conference tourney bye although they may still have NCAA hopes. So, it's 6 teams competing for 4 byes and the regular season title and NCAA leverage.
Leader Richmond is rolling. The Spiders have won 7 in a row. They host GW Saturday then wait 8 days to play XU at Cintas (Sunday Feb.28).
Xavier plays Charlotte and Saint Louis on the road before Richmond. Temple plays Big 5 rival Saint Joe's Saturday at the Palestra. The Owls host Dayton next Wednesday. Charlotte's 8-3 tied with SLU. The 49ers were blown-out at Dayton then lost last nite at home 83-77 to Duquesne. They have X Saturday. Saint Louis is streaking with 5 wins in a row and a 14-1 home record. The Billikens are at UMass Saturday before hosting the Muskies next Wednesday.
Dayton is 6-4 and in a strange position. Their chances of winning the league are remote (2 games back with 6 to play and 5 teams to climb over). The Flyers still have a shot at a bye and the NCAA though. They almost have to win out!!
XU needs total focus on Charlotte (Sat. 2PM-Fox Sports Ohio). The Muskies clobbered the 49ers in January at Cintas, 86-74. X started quickly leading 14-5 after 5 minutes. XU guards hounded the UNCC starters Dujuan Harris and Derrio Green. Neither were very effective. Charlotte has a strong post presence with Chris Braswell, Shamari Spears and Phil Jones. That group didn't see the ball enough.
X led 44-28 at the half. Charlotte struggled to score from deep (2-22 from "3") while X made 8 bombs. Xavier outscored UNCC by 10 at the foul line also.
It's Home Coming and White-out Day at Halton Arena. Charlotte will be pumped. X needs to hang in early and bother their guards defensively. Mark Lyons is a major player here slowing down Harris-the little PG. The Muskies need to be patient offensively and go inside early. A little foul trouble for Braswell and Jones would help. XU got much better bench production vs UNCC in Cincy.
This is a game where Brad Redford needs to re-emerge. He scored 12 against Charlotte at Cintas.
XU controlled the game last Saturday at Florida. A similar effort at Charlotte nets a huge A-10 win this week.
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