Xavier vs. Dayton Live Blog

Welcome to the final GoXavier.com live blog from the Cintas Center this season. The Musketeers will host the Dayton Flyers tonight to close out the home schedule in Cintas Center. The game is being televised on ESPN2. Prior to tipoff, seniors BJ Raymond and CJ Anderson will be honored during the Senior Night celebration.

First Half
19:06 - There wasn't a person in Cintas Center sitting for the first XU basket, a three from Dante Jackson. Jackson has now score XU's first five points.

17:51 - The stat sheet is all Dante Jackson so far. He has all eight of Xavier's points, including two three-pointers. In four years, this blogger has never heard the Cintas Center this loud to open a game. Many of the crowd (not just students) have yet to take their seats.

16:06 - If this was the video game NBA JAM, Dante Jackson would have flames coming off of him. All 11 of Xavier's points are from Jackson after he hit his third straight from downtown. The score: Jackson 11, Dayton 5.

11:37 - A series of calls by the officials unfavorable to Xavier have given the fans something to boo at other than Dayton. XU has not scored in the last four minutes, a drought featuring several missed shots. Thankfully, the Flyers have not fared to well either. XU leads 13-7.

9:08 - Jamel McLean has grabbed three straight rebounds for XU, including an offensive putback for two. Unfortunately, the last rebound was thanks to a hook move. Dayton missed the opening shot on the 1-and-1 opportunity.

8:36 - Kenny Frease just made a BACKCOURT steal. The ensuing fast break resulted in a foul on Dayton. McLean made both free throws. XU leads 21-10.

7:33 - Frease is the focus of the action now after hitting both of his free throw attempts and taking a charge on the other end. The freshman is making his mark on this game.

4:55 - The Musketeer reserves are showing Dayton just how much depth Xavier has. On three straight possessions, McLean had a commanding dunk.. followed by a break-away layup from Terrell Holloway.. followed by yet another authorative dunk from Jamel McLean. The crowd is on their feet going into the final TV timeout of the half. Xavier still leads 32-22.

2:01 - The Flyers cannot stop McLean on the boards. He has four rebounds and is now 4-4 in the game with his last three baskets being gigantic slam dunks.

Halftime - XU ends the half with their largest lead of the game, 40-27. Neither team scored in the final minute.

Second Half

15:30 - The first TV timeout of the half is here after Mickey Perry fould Dante Jackson on a drive. What Cintas fans on that end of the floor noticed was the additional hand checking by Perry that followed the call. That, on top of a young Dayton fan being ejected from the Xavier student section, added a little something extra to the break.

15:07 - On senior night, sophomore Dante Jackson is having one of his best all-around games. Jackson just dove into a pile of Flyers for a loose ball, corralled it, and managed to call the timeout. XU leads 43-35.

13:41 - Dayton had smothered C.J. Anderson's scoring attempts until the previous possession, when his power move in the paint resulted in two points for XU.

11:56 - The Xavier lead is down to six points (47-41). London Warren committed his third foul before the TV timeout

11:16 - Brad Redford just hit a wide open three from four feet beyond the arc. The spark is exactly what XU and the Cintas Center fans were looking for. Xavier now leads 50-41.

9:19 - Redford, running the point guard position, just shook his defended and nailed another trey from exactly the same spot. The threat from Redford at point is very real: One crossover-shake and the space for his shot can be created.

7:49 - Brian Gregory was forced to take a timeout now that XU has opened a 55-44 lead. The Musketeer fans have been standing for the last ten straight minutes at least. Cintas Center is electric like a thunder storm.

6:35 - Cintas Center will certainly miss BJ Raymond. He just hit back-to-back three pointers that opened up a 63-49 lead for the Musketeers. His face was a mirror image of the classic roar following his overtime treys that led XU to the Elite Eight last season.

3:56 - Dante Jackson and Kenny Frease just ran a perfectly-executed pick-and-roll. The result: a Frease slam that once again reminded Dayton just how many weapons Xavier has.

2:45 - Derrick Brown just one-handed a rebouned and slammed it home all in one move. He followed the play with a block on the other end that created a loose ball which Kenny Frease corralled on the deck. With a timeout called, XU earned possession.

0:19 - Sean Miller called a timeout to get CJ Anderson and BJ Raymond out of the game so the fans could give them the final applause they deserved. Both were critical to the win this evening.

Final - Xavier wins 76 - 59. Thanks for reading, the Musketeers will now cut down the nets to celebrate their three-straight A-10 regular season championships. Be sure to check GoXavier.com for all the post game recap information on tonights game.