Bluiett Helps No. 7 Xavier Cruise Past DePaul, 86-65
ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — Trevon Bluiett scored 15 points and No. 7 Xavier used an impressive burst spanning the halves to put away DePaul for an 86-65 victory on Saturday.
The Musketeers trailed 32-25 before they ripped off 29 of the next 34 points to grab control. J.P. Macura made a 3-pointer and two free throws during a 17-1 run over the final 3:43 of the first half, and Bluiett had two layups and a jumper to help Xavier open a 54-37 lead with 16:13 remaining.
Macura and Larry Austin Jr. had 12 points apiece for the Musketeers (19-2, 7-2 Big East), who have won three in a row since their 81-72 home loss against Georgetown on Jan. 19.
DePaul (7-14, 1-8) lost for the eighth time in its last nine games.
The Blue Demons struggled to score after Xavier switched to a 1-3-1 zone late in the first half and never recovered.
Tommy Hamilton IV scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half, and Billy Garrett Jr. finished with 18 points. But DePaul committed 15 turnovers and its reserves finished with just 12 points, compared to 42 for Xavier's backups.
The Blue Demons also were hurt by a pair of costly fouls on Joe Hanel late in the first half. The sophomore forward was called for over the back while going for a rebound, and then went chest to chest with Jalen Reynolds, drawing a technical.
The result was a pair of free throws for Myles Davis and Reynolds and a 40-32 lead for Xavier with 1:14 to go. Edmond Sumner tacked on a jumper for the Musketeers with 22 seconds left, and the Blue Demons trailed by nine at the break after leading by as many as nine in the early going.
Reynolds and Davis each scored 10 for Xavier, which led by as many as 26 on its way to its five win in the last six games in the series. The Musketeers also beat the Blue Demons 84-64 on Jan. 12.
TIP-INS
Xavier: Bluiett had two points on 1-for-4 shooting in the first half. ... The Musketeers earned their fourth consecutive Big East road win. They also improved to 9-1 away from Cintas Center this season. ... Xavier missed its first nine shots of the game and 11 of its first 12 overall.
DePaul: Women's basketball coach Doug Bruno was recognized during the first half with a commemorative ball in honor of his 600th career win on Jan. 15 at Butler. ... Hamilton fouled out with 5:35 left.
UP NEXT
Xavier hosts St. John's on Wednesday night.
DePaul hosts No. 10 Providence on Tuesday night.
(© 2016 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)
