Wake Forest University
Xavier
Musketeers Down Deacs 68-53 in Non-Conference Finale
12/28/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2013
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CINCINNATI - Xavier used a big first-half run to pull away and defeat Wake Forest 68-53 in the Skip Prosser Classic Saturday at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
After neither team led by more than three points over the first 10 minutes of the game, the Musketeers (10-3) pulled away at the end of the first half thanks to a 16-0 run that spanned almost eight minutes to give them 42-27 halftime lead.
A 12-2 run for the Demon Deacons (10-3) cut the Musketeer lead to 12 points at 61-49 midway through the second period, but the Deacs would get no closer the rest of the way.
Codi Miller-McIntyre led the Demon Deacons with 11 points and four assists, hitting double figures for the sixth game in a row. Coron Williams added 10 points, all in the first half, on 4-of-6 shooting.
Arnaud William Adala Moto led Wake Forest on the boards with six rebounds, and Travis McKie chipped in five boards.
The game was the fourth in a series between Wake Forest and Xavier that honors the late Skip Prosser, who coached at both schools. The series is now tied 2-2 with the home team winning all four games.
Xavier's Matt Stainbrook led all players with a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Both teams struggled to shoot the ball with the Deacons going 36 percent from the field (19-of-53) and the Musketeers posting only a slightly better 39 percent mark.
Poor free throw shooting hurt Wake Forest as the Demon Deacons went only 10-of-21 from the charity stripe. Xavier won the battle of the boards 50-34 - marking only the third time that the Deacons were outrebounded all season.
Wake Forest and Xavier traded baskets over the opening five minutes. The Deacons hit three 3-pointers, two from Williams, to build a 10-9 advantage.
The Deacons took their biggest lead of the opening period at 24-22, but the Musketeer responded with 16 straight points, holding Wake Forest scoreless for almost an eight-minute stretch to go in front 38-26.
Codi Miller-McIntyre finally broke the ice from the free throw line, but the Musketeers continued to build their lead, taking a 42-27 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Xavier continued to extend the advantage in the second half, building a 20-point lead at 57-37 midway through the period.
The Deacons held the Musketeers scoreless for a 6:27 stretch midway through the final period to spark an 10-0 run that cut the lead to 59-47. Xavier responded with five straight points from Stainbrook to swing the momentum back in the Muskies' favor.
Wake Forest will return home to open ACC play against North Carolina on January 5 at 8 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU and can also be heard on the Wake Forest IMG Sports Network.
