Game 33: Men vs. Xavier

The men's team hosts #20/20 Xavier (14-4, 2-1) this evening at the Smith Center. GW (5-7, 1-1) is coming off of a 66-53 loss at Fordham on Wednesday night. In that one, three Colonials reached double figures in scoring: Rob Diggs (19 points, five rebounds), Maureece Rice (13 points, eight rebounds, seven assists), and Damian Hollis (11 points, 10 rebounds), who recorded his third double-double of the season and fourth of his career.

The Musketeers, who were picked to finish first out of 14 teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference, return three starters from the squad that went 25-9 and lost to Ohio State in overtime of the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Xavier has a mind-boggling six players averaging double figures in scoring: preseason All-A-10 First Team selection 5-7 senior guard Drew Lavender (12.3 points, 4.8 assists per game this season), 6-6 junior guard/forward B.J. Raymond (12 points), 6-8 sophomore forward Derrick Brown (11.3 points, 6.7 rebounds), 6-6 junior guard/forward C.J. Anderson (11.1 points, 6.2 rebounds), preseason All-A-10 Second Team selection 6-3 senior guard Stanley Burrell (10.3 points), and 6-9 senior forward Josh Duncan (10.1 points, 4.9 rebounds). Coach Sean Miller is 77-36 in four seasons at Xavier.

Xavier is coming off of a 78-59 loss at Temple on Wednesday night. In that one, three Musketeers reached double figures in scoring: Brown (14 points, eight rebounds), 6-9 sophomore forward/center Jason Love (13 points), and Lavender (11 points, five rebounds). However, Temple shot 13-27 (48.1%) from behind the three-point line and held Lavender, who ranks in the top five in the A-10, without an assist. The Musketeers' best win of the season thus far was an 80-65 triumph over #8 Indiana on November 24 in the Chicago Invitational Challenge. Xavier is second in the A-10 in scoring defense and tops in three-point field goal percentage. The Musketeers are just 1-3 on the road.

This is the 30th-ever meeting between these programs; GW is 9-20. The last meeting came on February 10, 2007 at the Smith Center, which Xavier won 87-58. In that one, Carl Elliott had 13 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Rice had 12 points. However, Xavier outscored GW 44-18 in the second half to end the Colonials' 24-game home winning streak. Burrell had 17 points to lead the Musketeers. Xavier has won five of the last six meetings in the series, including the last two at the Smith Center. GW is 5-7 all-time at home against the Musketeers.

While Xavier has struggled on the road and GW has played well at home, the Musketeers have too much talent for the Colonials to overcome. Don't be surprised if this one plays out in a similar manner to last season's contest, with a close first half and no contest after intermission.

Phil Kaminski and Chris Avallone have the call for WRGW with Evan Waxman handling production duties. You can listen here starting at 7.40 p.m. Our own Paul Marmaro will join Byron Kerr for the WFED broadcast. You can listen here starting at 7.50 p.m. Brad Johnson and Steve Wolf have the call on FSN Ohio. You can watch live starting at eight p.m.

Game notes: GW is 3-12 in regular season games against ranked teams under coach Karl Hobbs...All of those wins have come at the Verizon Center in the BB&T Classic...GW is 32-1 in its last 33 home games...GW has won eight-straight at home, including all five games this season...Its last home loss was against Xavier last season...Xavier and Temple are the only A-10 teams with winning records at the Smith Center...Xavier was the last ranked team to visit the Smith Center...The #19 Musketeers beat GW 80-68 on February 4, 2003...Hobbs is 2-10 against Xavier...Miller is 3-1 against GW...Rice needs eight points to pass Mike Tallent for 34th place in program history...Rice needs 19 points to pass Bucky McDonald for 33rd place in program history...Rice needs seven assists for 200 for his career...In five games at the Smith Center this season, opponents are shooting 29% from the field and averaging 46.2 points...GW is 4-0 when leading at halftime and 1-7 when trailing...The Colonials are 1-4 in televised games.

Starting lineups and other notes to follow from the Smith Center once we get closer to tip-off. Please check back later.

Update, 6.57 p.m. - You may notice the lighting is a little different at the Smith Center tonight. Our own Paul Marmaro, an avid UCLA and Los Angeles Lakers fan, suggested to the staff that theater-type lighting, as seen as the Staples Center and Pauley Pavilion, would make the Smith Center look good on television. Apparently the suggestion was taken to heart.

Update, 8.36 p.m. - Here were the starting lineups:

Xavier
G - Drew Lavender (5-7 senior from Columbus, OH)
G - Stanley Burrell (6-3 senior from Indianapolis, IN)
F - C.J. Anderson (6-6 junior from Cincinnati, OH)
F - Derrick Brown (6-8 sophomore from Dayton, OH)
C - Jason Love (6-9 sophomore from Philadelphia, PA)

GW
G - Maureece Rice (6-1 senior from Philadelphia, PA)
G - Noel Wilmore (6-3 junior from Philadelphia, PA)
F - Damian Hollis (6-8 sophomore from Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
F - Rob Diggs (6-8 junior from Brandywine, MD)
C - Joseph Katuka (6-10 freshman from Zaria, Nigeria)

Update, 8.51 p.m. - Solid first half by the Colonials as they are only down three at intermission. Rice is already in double figures in scoring with 13 points, continuing his strong play of late. Keep in mind Xavier was only up three at the break at the Smith Center last season before outscoring GW 44-18 in the second half.

Update, 10.04 p.m. - Great effort by the men, but they fall short to Xavier by a score of 74-66. The deficit was cut to one in the final minute, but the Musketeers converted from the field and the free throw line down the stretch to wrap it up. Hollis had his third-straight double-double and his fourth in five games with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Classless move by Brown dunking at the end of the game with the shot clock off. File that away in the memory bank for when these teams meet again in Cincinnati on March 1.

We'll be back in action on Wednesday when the men visit #21/23 Rhode Island and the women host LaSalle. As always, thanks for stopping by.