|
Anderson, Carroll Power Xavier Past Saint Francis, 96–74 at Cintas Center
By
Musketeer Madness,
12/1/2025
Xavier used a second-half surge to put away Saint Francis, 96–74, on Monday night at Cintas Center. The Musketeers (6–3) never trailed and controlled the game with balanced scoring, efficient shooting inside the arc, and a dominant transition attack that produced 29 fast-break points.
Roddie Anderson III delivered one of his best performances in a Xavier uniform, pouring in 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting while knocking down five threes and adding five steals, five rebounds and four assists. Anderson was at his best pushing tempo after turnovers, fueling a series of second-half runs that blew open what had been an 11-point game at halftime.
Tre Carroll was equally impactful, scoring 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting while grabbing five rebounds. The sophomore forward consistently punished Saint Francis in the mid-post and on second-chance opportunities, where Xavier held a 14–8 edge.
All Wright added 15 points, and Malik Messina-Moore chipped in six points and seven assists, showing strong control of the offense throughout. Isaiah Walker added 10 points. Ten different Musketeers scored as Xavier’s bench contributed 45 points—a major factor in wearing down the Red Flash.
Xavier’s defensive pressure dictated much of the game. The Musketeers forced 15 turnovers, converting them into 19 points, and held Saint Francis without a lead for the full 40 minutes. The Red Flash (1–7) were led by Skylar Wicks with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Zion Russell added 15 points and eight boards. But Saint Francis could not keep pace with Xavier’s speed or physicality in the paint, where the Musketeers held a commanding 48–28 scoring advantage.
After taking a 44–33 lead into the break, Xavier wasted little time extending the margin. A pair of Wright layups, an Anderson three, and a Carroll jumper fueled an 11–2 run early in the second half, stretching the lead to 20 and prompting a Saint Francis timeout. The Musketeers’ largest lead reached 27 with just over five minutes remaining.
Xavier shot 49% from the field and 62% on twos, a reflection of their ability to generate clean opportunities at the rim and in transition. Defensively, the Musketeers tallied seven steals and four blocks while winning the rebounding battle 43–34.
The victory continues Xavier’s strong play at home and gives the Musketeers momentum heading into a challenging December stretch. Next up for XU is the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout in which the Musketeers play host to its crosstown rival Cincinnati on Friday evening at Cintas Center. Game time is set for 7:30pm.
|
|
