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Xavier Holds Off Providence, Secures No. 4 Seed in BIG EAST Tournament
By
Musketeer Madness,
3/8/2025
Behind a dominant performance from Zach Freemantle and clutch shooting by Ryan Conwell, the Xavier Musketeers closed out their regular season with a 76-68 victory over Providence on Saturday at Cintas Center. The win locked in Xavier (21-10, 13-7 BIG EAST) as the No. 4 seed in the upcoming BIG EAST Tournament, where they will face No. 5 seed Marquette in the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 13, at Madison Square Garden.
Freemantle led the charge with a game-high 25 points, shooting 11-of-16 from the field while pulling down eight rebounds. Conwell added 21 points, connecting on four three-pointers and converting 5-of-6 free throws. The Musketeers overcame a strong outside shooting performance from Providence, which knocked down 12 three-pointers, including seven from Bensley Joseph, who finished with 27 points for the Friars (12-19, 6-14 BIG EAST).
The game saw 10 lead changes as both teams battled in a tightly contested first half. Xavier used an early inside presence from Freemantle and timely shooting from Conwell to take a 36-32 lead into the break. Despite shooting just 34.4% in the first half, the Musketeers capitalized on their free-throw opportunities, hitting 9-of-11 from the stripe.
Providence came out strong in the second half, cutting the deficit to one on multiple occasions. The Friars briefly took a 39-38 lead following a layup by Ryan Mela, but Xavier responded with a 7-2 run, highlighted by a powerful dunk from Jerome Hunter and a three-pointer from Conwell.
Joseph kept Providence within striking distance, hitting several deep three-pointers to keep the Friars within single digits. However, Xavier’s defense stiffened in the final minutes, forcing critical turnovers and capitalizing on fast-break opportunities. A pivotal sequence came with under three minutes to play when Conwell drained a pair of free throws, followed by a defensive stop that led to a Freemantle jumper, pushing the Musketeers' lead to 69-64.
Xavier sealed the game at the free-throw line, shooting 17-of-21 overall. Dayvion McKnight and Conwell each knocked down key free throws in the final minute, ensuring the Musketeers would finish the season with momentum heading into postseason play. Xavier’s ability to convert at the line contrasted sharply with Providence, which struggled, making just 4-of-11 free throws.
In addition to Freemantle and Conwell, Hunter provided a spark off the bench with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting. Marcus Foster and Dailyn Swain combined for 14 points while anchoring Xavier’s defense, which forced 17 Providence turnovers, leading to 20 points off those mistakes.
The Musketeers also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Friars 35-30, including 11 offensive rebounds that led to 11 second-chance points. Providence saw solid contributions from Mela, who had 12 points and seven rebounds, while Oswin Erhunmwunse added eight points and six boards.
With the win, Xavier turns its attention to the BIG EAST Tournament, where they will take on Marquette at 2:30 p.m. on March 13. The game will be nationally televised on Peacock as the Musketeers look to make a deep run in New York City.
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