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Xavier Holds Off Providence, Secures 91-82 Road Victory
By
Musketeer Madness,
2/12/2025
Xavier used a balanced scoring attack and clutch free-throw shooting to take down Providence 91-82 on Wednesday night at Amica Mutual Pavilion. The Musketeers improved to 15-10 overall and evened their Big East record at 7-7, while the Friars fell to 11-14 (5-9 Big East).
Dante Maddox Jr. led the way with 26 points off the bench, matching his career high. The sharpshooter was nearly unstoppable from deep, hitting 6-of-9 from beyond the arc while also converting all six of his free throws. His scoring provided a much-needed spark, particularly as the Friars threatened to rally in the second half.
Xavier established control early, racing out to a 45-30 halftime lead behind hot shooting. The Musketeers hit 50% of their three-pointers in the first half and were perfect from the free-throw line. Zach Freemantle had a strong all-around performance, finishing with 23 points and nine rebounds while knocking down three triples of his own.
Ryan Conwell contributed 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Dailyn Swain added 13 points and four assists. The Musketeers also capitalized on their defensive effort, turning 11 Providence turnovers into 21 points.
The Friars clawed back in the second half, outscoring Xavier 52-46 after the break. Bensley Joseph and Justyn Fernandez each scored 15 points to lead Providence, while Oswin Erhunmwunse was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field for 14 points. However, the Friars’ struggles at the free-throw line—just 2-of-10 for the game—proved costly.
Despite the late surge from Providence, Xavier remained poised down the stretch. The Musketeers went 21-of-24 from the free-throw line in the second half, with Conwell and Swain delivering in the closing minutes to keep the lead intact.
Bench production played a crucial role for Xavier, with 32 points coming from non-starters. Maddox Jr.’s explosive scoring was the highlight, but Jerome Hunter and John Hugley also chipped in with timely contributions.
With the victory, Xavier moves into the middle of the Big East standings and will look to keep its momentum going as it returns home. The Musketeers host DePaul on Saturday, February 15, at Cintas Center, with tipoff set for noon on FS1.
As the regular season winds down, Xavier will aim to strengthen its potential postseason outlook with key conference games ahead. If the Musketeers continue their balanced scoring and defensive intensity, they could make a strong push in the final stretch of Big East play.
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