STORRS, Conn. – Saturday was another chapter in the ongoing saga of a Xavier team that fell in a massive first-half hole, then fought to climb out of it in the second half on the road at UConn's Gampel Pavilion.
Xavier lost the game, 72-61, but coming off its worst performance of the season, one in which the Musketeers didn't show any fight late in the second half against St. John's, Xavier fought in the second half Saturday like a team that still has a lot to play for.
More:Analysis: Inconsistent is an understatement after Xavier's home loss to St. John's
But Xavier also showcased its flaws again, and for a team that's lost six of its last nine games, those flaws take precedent over any amount of fight they show in the second half.
This game was decided in a few areas. First, Xavier got bullied on the glass. UConn won the rebound battle, 42-26.
Then, Xavier, which trailed by as many as 18 points in the first half, let UConn go on a 14-2 run over the final four minutes of the first half to take a 44-27 lead into the break.
In the second half, Xavier woke up from its slumber, continuing its months-long tradition of falling behind only to crawl back into the game.
The Musketeers started the second half with a 14-5 run and eventually cut the deficit to four points, 52-48, with 11:13 left in the game, but that's as close as the Musketeers would get.
The Enquirer will update this story.
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