The first four minutes were complete rubbish on Wednesday night. Xavier didn't look ready to play against Ball State and shortly before the first media timeout of the first half, head coach Travis Steele nearly made a complete line change. With his team trailing 7-2, Steele brought four players in off the bench and then something changed.
Maybe some ceremonial smelling salts hit their brainwaves or perhaps they busted out the Big League Chew and passed it around Sandlot style.
Whatever happened, everything changed. The Musketeers went from looking lifeless to closing the first half on a 43-16 run and the second half was the same story as Xavier went on to beat Ball State 96-50.
The play that seemed to spark some life was a relatively simple post feed from Adam Kunkel to Zach Freemantle, who finished with an elegant little hook shot. Paul Scruggs backed that play up with a confident drive that he finished, then followed it with a 3-pointer. Freemantle then went big man to big man with a sneaky pass to Jack Nunge for a slam.
All that started wrong quickly became right. The Musketeers were moving, shaking, and most importantly, Freemantle looked like the player who was a first-team All-Big East preseason selection. He moved well, played with confidence and passion, and when he checked out of the game with a little more than five minutes remaining, Xavier fans showed their appreciation after watching the 6-foot-9 junior who in his third appearance of the season finished with a game-high 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Freemantle got up and down the floor in transition, he posted up and Xavier worked to get him the ball. He battled on the glass and was incredibly efficient at both ends of the floor, particularly on offense, going 9-of-11 from the floor and 6-of-6 from the foul line.
Colby Jones continued his Heisman campaign with 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Nate Johnson hit four 3-pointers, giving him 20 deep balls over Xavier's last five games, and finished with 14 points. Scruggs had seven points and nine rebounds. Nunge added nine points and five boards.
It was exactly the type of precursor to Saturday's Crosstown Shootout that Xavier was looking for.
The Enquirer will update this story.
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