Xavier Survives IPFW in OT

Tuesday, November 16

Cincinnati, Ohio

7:00 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

76 OT

Xavier

Ben Botts reached the 1,000 point mark with 13 at Xavier

11/16/2010 10:52:24 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score | Photo Gallery

Cincinnati, OH - The Xavier Musketeers escaped with their second win of the season by working overtime against IPFW, 76-66 on Tuesday night at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

IPFW forward Trey McCorkle muscled home a basket inside with :06 left in regulation to tie it at 63, and junior guard Jeremy Mixon stole the next inbounds pass to set up a final shot at the buzzer. IPFW senior guard Ben Botts' deep jumper from in front of the Mastodon bench hit the front of the rim but wouldn't fall, sending the game to OT.

In overtime, IPFW quickly fell behind as Xavier guard Tu Holloway scored six of his game-high 24 points as the Musketeers outscored the 'Dons, 13-3 in the extra session.

IPFW led, 3-0 early on a triple by senior guard Zach Plackemeier but would trail throughout the opening half.

XU sophomore forward Jeff Robinson would throw down a breakaway dunk giving the Musketeers a 20-13 lead at the 10:25 mark.

But on 3-pointers by Plackemeier and senior forward Oleg Kovalov, IPFW drew to within one at 26-25 with just 4:38 left in the first stanza.

Xavier would increase that lead back to eight after a Holloway layup and a couple of free throws by junior center Kenny Frease.

Botts would drill a triple cutting that lead back to five just before half. It was Botts' 1,000 point in Mastodon Blue and White, but XU would lead 36-29 at the break.

Xavier senior guard Dante' Jackson gave XU a nine point cushion with a jumper right out of halftime, but the Mastodons continued to chip away at the lead, and on a Mixon triple IPFW had its first lead since the tip, 57-55 with 4:37 left.

Musketeer senior forward Jamel McLean's fastbreak dunk made it 61-57 at the 2:59 mark, but McCorkle scored the Mastodons final six points to send it to OT.

Along with Holloway's 24, Xavier got double-digit scoring from Robinson, McLean and guard Mark Lyons all with 11 and Frease finished with 10. McLean added 10 rebounds for a double-double.

Plackemeier and Botts each finished with 13, while Mixon added 12 and McCorkle 10. IPFW was outrebounded 44-32 by the taller Xavier squad.

Xavier did just enough from the free throw line to win this one. The Musketeers were 23-33 (69.7%) while the 'Dons shot just 10-17 (58.8%).

With the loss, IPFW falls to 1-1 and will head right back to Cincinnati to take on the Bearcast of UC on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. You can hear the game on ESPN 1380am beginning at 12:45 p.m. The contest will also be broadcast of Fox Sports Ohio.

~Dons~