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Musketeers Finish Opening Homestand with 80-55 Win Over Siena
By
Musketeer Madness,
11/20/2024
Xavier extended its perfect start to the season, defeating Siena 80-55 at the Cintas Center on Wednesday night. The Musketeers showcased balanced scoring and an up-tempo offense that overwhelmed the visiting Saints. Ryan Conwell led the charge for Xavier, scoring a game-high 16 points, including four three-pointers. Marcus Foster added 12 points, and Dayvion McKnight orchestrated the offense with 7 assists. Xavier’s relentless fast break generated 33 points, a significant factor in their dominant performance.
Siena struggled to find rhythm against Xavier’s stout defense and efficient ball movement. Xavier transfer Reid Ducharme was a bright spot for the Saints, leading his team with 15 points, including two three-pointers. Major Freeman added 12 points but found limited opportunities inside due to Xavier’s size and defensive rotations. Siena’s shooting woes, particularly from the free-throw line (45%), prevented them from closing the gap despite brief scoring runs in each half.
The Musketeers set the tone early, building a 44-28 halftime lead thanks to hot shooting from beyond the arc (61.5% in the first half). The Saints briefly narrowed the deficit early in the second half, but Xavier responded with a barrage of fast-break layups and three-pointers, stretching their lead to as many as 27 points.
With the victory, Xavier improves to a perfect 5-0, while Siena falls to 3-2 on the season. Xavier heads south for its next two games as it prepares to play in the Fort Myers Tipoff starting on Monday against South Carolina. Game time is set for Monday at 8:30pm. X will the play either Michigan or Virginia Tech on Wed night.
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