After three competitive, grueling games in four days on the other side of the country, Xavier's men's basketball team returned home on Wednesday and played a stress-free game, executing at both ends of the floor in a 95-63 win over Southeastern Louisiana.
It was evident a few minutes into the game that the Lions were no match for the Musketeers.
"I thought we did a great job of being ready for the game," Xavier head coach Sean Miller said, "preparing for a dangerous team, especially from the 3-point line.
"And especially in the first 20 minutes, I thought our defense was just above where it's been. Regardless of the score and who we were playing, we were playing effort, hard effort."
Xavier got rolling with an early and stayed rolling for the duration, exactly what it was supposed to do against a team it's much better than.
Southeastern Louisiana only scored 19 points in the first half.
Colby Jones picked up right where he left off in Portland, Oregon, drilling two early 3-pointers en route to a game-high 16 points, seven assists and four rebounds.
Jones was the best player on the floor and it wasn't close. Jones was also the primary defender on Southeastern Louisiana's Boogie Anderson, and Miller credited Jones with locking him up most of the night.
The Musketeers went with a different starting lineup on Wednesday. Playing without Adam Kunkel again, KyKy Tandy started in Kunkel's spot and freshman Desmond Claude started for Freemantle, who checked into the game early and played well with 15 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
"We wanted to get off to a great start defensively," Miller said when asked about switching his starting lineup. "Especially guarding their 3-point shooting ... that was our thinking. Zach didn't start, came right in and I thought did a good job when he was in there. We started him in the second half ... and that first four minutes of the second half, he and our team came out of the halftime locker room and did a good job."
Freemantle scored his 1,000th career point in the win.
"It feels good," said Freemantle. "A lot of stuff that still needs to be accomplished. A lot of goals still on the table, but it's definitely something nice."
Starting point guard Souley Boum continued his impressive start at Xavier with 15 points.
Perhaps the biggest added benefit to Wednesday's win was that with the game in hand, Xavier was able to get it starters a lot of rest and provide opportunities to Claude, freshman Kam Craft and Dieonte Miles. Actually, Xavier was able to play everyone on the roster who's healthy, including its walk-ons.
Craft and Claude really made the most of their playing time. Craft finally got his shot going, connecting on three 3-pointers.
"I thought Kam Craft and Des Claude both did a very good job in tonight's game," Miller said. "It's great to see Kam come in and shoot the ball and get in the game."
Craft finished with 11 points, his most as a Musketeer.
It wasn't a perfect 40-minute performance and Miller made sure to point that out. Southeastern Louisiana scored 44 points in the second half, granted much of it came against Xavier's reserves.
"I'd say from about the 12-minute mark to the end of the game we just weren't at that same intensity level," said Miller. "And that's what we're trying to get to. You can't turn it off. You have to play to the buzzer. You need sustained effort."
With Wednesday's win, Xavier improves to 5-3 with a tough test looming on Saturday at Cintas Center against Bob Huggins' West Virginia Mountaineers in the Big East-Big 12 Battle.
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