Xavier vs. UMass Saturday January 31, 2009

Welcome to this LIVE blog of the No. 10/10 Xavier University Musketeers match-up with the Massachusetts Minutemen.

First Half
19:36 - The Minutemen just left Terrell Holloway wide open for trey to open the game. If that perimeter defense continues the Musketeer fans will enjoy Brad Redford's minutes.

14:51 - Holloway's next deep ball bricked off to the opposite wing where B.J. Raymond casually let it fall into his shooting pocket for another 3-point attempt. It's good! Xavier stops a seven-point run by the Minutemen. Brad Redford has entered the game.

11:42 - The Minutemen forgot about Raymond, as he just hit another three ball in the corner on a skip pass from the opposite wing. The play was eerily reminiscent of the inbounds skip pass during overtime of the West Virginia NCAA Tournament game that Raymond used to send XU into the Elite Eight.

10:36 - UMass center Luke Bonner just caught Holloway's ankle on a loose ball scuffle. The freshman winced in pain but will remain in the game. He's limping slightly during dead balls but appears to be simply walking it off. Exhale Muskie fans.

9:56 - One of America's 15 Toughest Places to Play? EA Sports got it right, as the crowd went from near-silence while Holloway was on the deck to a standing roar after Derrick Brown sank a high-arcing three to give Xavier the lead 23-22.

7:05 - Brown is perfect from the field at 4-4 after hitting his second from deep (followed by a fist pump) and driving baseline with a left hand finish. The crowd is on their feet for X-A-V-IER. This may be the loudest Cintas Center has been all season.

3:25 - UMass' Luke Bonner just flopped (in the opinion of this blogger) to the result of Kenny Frease's second foul. The freshman, pairing with Jason Love, needs to keep his count under five to help combat the 7'1" Minutemen senior.

2:52 - Brown is in the zone today. He just took his man off the dribble baseline, took off from OUTSIDE the paint and landed the ball in the hoop with a slam and a whistle. The junior completed the and-one for a 10-point Xavier lead.

Halftime: XU goes into the break with a 44-37 lead. We'll see if UMass' Chris Lowe realizes the tag is still on his undershirt during halftime.

Second Half
17:51 - The Musketeers have started out the half a bit sluggish. Tony Gaffney stole a Holloway pass and slammed it on the fast break. The fans demanded a technical as Gaffney hung on the rim a bit longer than necessary.

17:12 - Here we go: Brown just drained his third three pointer on three attempts. This is exactly what the fans had been waiting for. UMass anwered with a Ricky Harris airball, resulting in his stumbling return to the bench.

15:31 - A series of Muskie turnovers and UMass offensive rebounds left the fans screaming for some control and an answer, which Brown provided. His offensive rebound off Dante Jackson's missed three-pointer resulted in a putback and whiste for the and-one attempt. The lead is now 53-46 before the free throw. Oh, and Chris Lowe still has the tag on, clearly visible.

13:33 - ANY Muskie fireworks on the floor will make for bedlam in the stands, but turnovers and missed shots are making XU do it without flash. The lead is 56-48.

8:26 - UMass freshman David Gibbs just sank a three-pointer to give the Minutemen the lead, 65-64, with 8:23 left. Xavier continues to turn the ball over, but C.J. Anderson has been the Xavier life preserver. He backed down the 7'1" UMass center and layed it in, a feat few forwards five inches shorted and 20 pounds lighter could accomplish. The senior has put his team on his back.

6:56 - Kenny Frease is 4-7 with 8 points and 3 rebounds, but his presence is clear outside the stat sheet. His physical play earned him a standing ovation when he returned to the bench. It seems that Sean Miller wants more of that energy in the game, as the freshman barely contacted the chair when his name was called again.

3:56 - The Xavier lead is one, 71-70. The atmosphere could be described as nervous electricity. Just one big three-pointer or fast-break layup and I don't see the fans letting UMass get any closer, let alone the Muskies.

3:14 - Nearly every one of the 10,250 fans were silent for Jason Love's free throws. He made both; the Xavier lead is 73-70.

0:59 - The game is back and forth in the final minutes. Raymond just sank another 3-pointer followed by a defensive stop and a C.J. Anderson lay-in over Bonner. The Muskie lead is 1 with 40 seconds left.

0:15 - Ricky Harris missed a three-pointer that would have given the Minutemen the lead with little time remaining. Raymond grabbed yet another emphatic rebound and made his free throws after the ensuing foul.

0:11 - Dante Jackson fouled the Harris before he could loft up a long-distance three that would have tied the game. It's a game of free throws now. The fans are hoping the free throw club will pay off here.

0:04 - The free throw club is paying off; the Musketeers are making their free throws down the stretch to keep the Minutemen at bay.

Final - Xavier wins 82-80. By far the most electric game this season at Cintas Center. Come out and watch your 19-2 Musketeers take on the Temple Owls next Thursday at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.