Xavier falls to Wake Forest, 66-59
Muskies drop fourth straight for first time since 2000
9:41 PM, Jan 2, 2013


Wake Forest forward Devin Thomas is stopped on his way to the basket by Xavier forward Erik Stenger. / AP Photo/The Winston-Salem Journal, Andrew Dye

Written by
Joedy McCreary
Associated Press

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Travis McKie scored 19 points and Wake Forest beat Xavier 66-59 on Wednesday night for its third straight win.

Codi Miller-McIntyre had 16 points, C.J. Harris added 15 and the Demon Deacons (7-5) erased their only deficit of the second half by scoring 12 straight points. They matched their longest winning streak under third-year coach Jeff Bzdelik.

Travis Taylor had 18 points — but just two in the second half — and 10 rebounds for the Musketeers (7-6).

They rallied from 11 points down and took a 49-48 lead on Jeff Robinson's jumper with just under seven minutes left.

But Xavier came up empty on eight straight possessions and went scoreless for 4½ critical minutes, and the Demon Deacons took over.

Freshman Devin Thomas gave Wake Forest the lead back with a reverse layup on the next trip down court. Miller-McIntyre delivered the dagger with just under four minutes left when he rattled in a long 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down to make it 57-49.

Xavier didn't get closer than seven the rest of the way, and Wake Forest made five of eight free throws in the final two minutes to seal it.

Thomas finished with a season-high 14 rebounds and drew a key charge that prolonged Xavier's untimely drought. Miller-McIntyre, considered the centerpiece of the Demon Deacons' highly regarded seven-man freshman class, had just his fourth double-figure game and first since Nov. 27 against Nebraska.

He helped the Demon Deacons claim their fourth three-game winning streak in two-plus seasons under Bzdelik. They haven't won four in a row since 2009-10, when Dino Gaudio was still in charge.

Xavier freshman Semaj Christon, who entered averaging 13.4 points, finished with 14 on 3-of-11 shooting but was 8 of 10 from the free-throw line.

Taylor had 16 points and seven rebounds in the first half and scored 14 of Xavier's first 20 points, but managed just one shot in the second half.

Neither team led by more than eight until the Demon Deacons assembled a 16-5 run that started in the first half and ended early in the second. Freshman Tyler Cavanaugh's open 3 a minute later made it 42-31.

But Wake Forest managed just one basket during the next 8½ minutes while the Musketeers reeled off eight straight points during an 18-6 spurt. They took their first lead of the half at 49-48 on Robinson's long jumper with just under seven minutes left but managed just two field goals the rest of the way.

Robinson finished with 10 points for Xavier.

Wake Forest took a 2-1 lead in the series that resumed after year's hiatus. It began in 2010 as a tribute to Prosser, who took both schools to four NCAA tournaments apiece before his death in 2007 of a heart attack at age 56.

http://news.cincinnati.com/viewart/20130...rest-66-59

Xavier completely falling apart. They suck like a vacuum cleaner. Soft A10 schedule will have them in the tournament picture come march, tho.

(01-02-2013 10:17 PM)Bearcatbdub Wrote:  Xavier completely falling apart. They suck like a vacuum cleaner. Soft A10 schedule will have them in the tournament picture come march, tho.

They're already done. Their only road to the tournament is winning A10 tournament which got a lot harder this season with the additions of March stalwarts Butler and VCU.

The falling apart has happened in the offseason the last few years when they signed guys who had no shot at being eligible and kicked their best players off the team and out of school. I hope they believe Chris Mack can right things and they keep him for several more years because as long as he is there they will suck.

(01-03-2013 12:55 AM)subflea Wrote:  The falling apart has happened in the offseason the last few years when they signed guys who had no shot at being eligible and kicked their best players off the team and out of school. I hope they believe Chris Mack can right things and they keep him for several more years because as long as he is there they will suck.

Exactly. And Mack had to have known there was a good chance Lyons would not return, so he has no one to blame for the lack of depth at the guard position. Losing 3/4 of their 2010 class due to transfer killed them. I think it's hilarious Jay Canty is averaging 16 PPG at Appalachian State now. I know their overall competition is worse, but he scored 29 against Missouri, 16 against South Carolina, and 21 against VT. Xavier fans wanted him, Latham, and McKenzie ran out of town after the first year. Just shows you have to have patience with kids. Not everyone pans out but I guarantee Mack wishes he had Canty to play instead of Redford right now.

The rest of their season will be rough. Teams have scouted and learned to let Christon shoot. He doesn't know what a jumpstop is evidently cause he has 2-3 charges per night. Redford is their only shooter and he's been off and can't get open 75% of the time. Their last 4 games they've shot 17% from 3. Not to mention their big men are incredibly inconsistent.

(01-02-2013 10:17 PM)Bearcatbdub Wrote:  Xavier completely falling apart. They suck like a vacuum cleaner. Soft A10 schedule will have them in the tournament picture come march, tho.

They will end up with at least 7 OOC losses since they still play Memphis They only have one path now and that is to win the A10 tourny. At Large bid ship already sailed.

Whenever I see Eggzavior or the hairless nuts from columbus in the losing column its like christmas all over again