Nov. 13, 2009

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CINCINNATI- In the first game of the 2009-2010 regular season Xavier downed the Youngstown State Penguins from the Horizon League by a score of 83-57.  Five Musketeers were in double figures including the game's leading scorer Jordan Crawford who posted 14 points in his Xavier debut.

Tonight's win marks the first win of the season as well as the first career victory for head coach Chris Mack.  Xavier has now won 20 straight regular season openers.  Additionally, the Musketeers have extended its winning streak at Cintas Center to 10 games. 

XU was consistent from the field shooting 51 percent and going 30-37 from the charity stripe.  Senior Jason Love earned eight of his 12 points from the free throw line and went 2-of-2 from the field.  Love also had three monster blocks and eight rebounds.  Freshman Mark Lyons made several athletic moves scoring 12 points, including going 5-of-5 from the free throw line in his long awaited debut for the Blue and White. 

Sophomore Terrell Holloway earned 10 points on the night going 3-of-6 from the floor.  Junior Danté Jackson scored all of his seven points in the second half.

Xavier started the game on a 13-2 run over the first four minutes of the half.  At halftime, the Musketeers were up on the Penguins by a score of 48-24.  Sophomore Brad Redford has a sensational first half scoring 11 points and going 3-of-4 from long range.

Xavier edged out the Penguins in the battle of the boards by a count of 39-to-31.  The Musketeers excelled in post play scoring 28 points in the paint as opposed to Youngstown's 18 points in the paint.        

The Penguins leading scorer was junior guard Vytas Sulskis who had 12 points.  Youngstown was held to 31 percent from the field and shot 61 percent from the free throw line.

Xavier will be back in action this Tuesday as they take on the Bowling Green Falcons at Cintas Center. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcasted regionally by FSN Ohio.