Xavier defeats Providence 97-84

Xavier Dominates Providence in Conference Showdown

The Cintas Center was electric on Sunday evening as the home crowd watched Xavier take down visiting Providence 97-84, spoiling the Friars' chances to earn an upset victory.

In a closely contested first half, Xavier's strong defensive effort allowed them to maintain a slim lead, with the Musketeers holding a narrow 44-35 advantage at the break. The second half saw both teams continue to battle, but ultimately it was Xavier who emerged victorious, taking a 13-point lead into the final minutes of play.

Malik Messina-Moore led all scorers for Xavier with 23 points on 5-9 three-point shooting, while Filip Borovicanin chipped in with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The sophomore's well-rounded performance was instrumental in Xavier's win, as he also dished out six assists.

For Providence, Stefan Vaaks led the way with 21 points, but struggled from beyond the arc at just 3-10. Ryan Mela added seven rebounds for the visiting team.

The advanced statistics tell a story of their own. Xavier shot an impressive 49.0% from the field and 40.0% from three-point range, while Providence struggled to find their mark at 45.0% overall and just 25.0% on threes. The Musketeers also out-rebounded the Friars by a significant margin of 32-33.

In terms of conference matchups, this win should give Xavier a boost in the standings. The team's strong defensive effort and balanced attack made for a convincing victory over a talented Providence squad.

With the outcome secured, Xavier moves on to its next challenge, while Providence will need to regroup and refocus after a tough loss at home.