Nate Johnson scores 25, including seven threes

Georgetown winless in Big East for first time ever

CINCINNATI – Nate Johnson’s 25 points led four Musketeers in double figures as Xavier closed out the regular season with a 97-75 win over Georgetown at Cintas Center on Saturday night.

Johnson connected on seven threes on the way to 25 points. Jack Nunge and Colby Jones each had 16 while Adam Kunkel added 12 as the Musketeers pulled away midway throught the first half on the way to the 22-point win. Xavier moved to 18-12 overall and 8-11 in BIG EAST play.

FIRST HALF RECAP

• The two teams traded possessions for the first six minutes, with neither holding more than a three point lead, until an Adam Kunkel three put Xavier up 16-11 with 13:28 to play.
• Kunkel’s three started a barrage of five straight threes for the Musketeers, starting a 17-3 run for the Musketeers to move in front by 17, 33-16, with with 8:49 before the half.
• The Hoyas would pull within 13 before the Musketeers re-extended the lead, pushing it out to 24, 54-30, at the half.
• Xavier blistered the nets, shooting 65.4 percent overall and 64.3 (9-14) from three in the first half, while holding GU to 29 percent shooting and just 1-of-10 from three.
• Jack Nunge scored 16 in the first 20 minutes, connecting on 6-of-8 shots, including a pair of threes.
• Nate Johnson added 12, hitting his first three outside shots.
• Colby Jones added 12 for the Musketeers as well, and grabbed a team-high five rebounds. Xavier had a 24-12 advantage on the boards at the half.

SECOND HALF RECAP

• A Zach Freemantle basket to open the second half stretched Xavier’s lead to 26, it’s largest of the game.
• Xavier maintained a 20-plus point lead over the next six minutes before a 7-0 run from GU cut it back to 18.
• The Hoyas would get within 15 in the final 10 minutes of the game before the Musketeers, helped by back-to-back threes from Nate Johnson, pushed the lead back out to 22, 87-65, with under six minutes to play.
• The Musketeers pushed the lead back out to 24, following baskets from Ramon Singh, Cesare Edwards and Zak Swetye before a GU basket set the final score at 97-75.
• Nate Johnson had 13 second half points, connecting on three outside shots.
• Paul Scruggs had seven second half points.
• The Musketeers shot  47 percent from the floor and 5-of-11 from three in the second half.
• Georgetown had a 23-16 advantage on the boards in the second half. Jack Nunge’s five rebounds led the Musketeers.

NOTABLES

• Nate Johnson scored 25 point, shooting 7-of-11 from three after hitting his first four of the game.
• Colby Jones finished with 16 points, six boards and seven assists, going 4-of-6 from the floor.
• Jack Nunge had 16 points and nine rebounds.
• Adam Kunkel finished with 12 points, connecting on three outside shots, and had a team-high eight assists.
• The Musketeers hit 14 threes, matching the season high set against Norfolk State. 
• Xavier’s 97 points were a season-high.
• Xavier finished with 32 assists on 35 made field goals.

COURTESY XAVIER ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS