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Preview: Xavier vs. USC
Xavier entered the Battle 4 Atlantis an undefeated team, but it faces the possibility of leaving the Bahamas winless if its struggles continue in Saturday’s seventh-place game against USC. The Musketeers held a 15-point second-half lead on Iowa on Thursday, but they faded late against the Hawkeyes and followed it up with lethargic effort in Friday’s loss to Tennessee. “We fought tooth and nail (Thursday), and we came up short; our guys just weren’t who we needed to be (Friday),” coach Chris Mack said.
Semaj Christon – the Musketeers’ leading scorer – was held to a season-low four points against the Volunteers, snapping his 25-game streak of scoring in double figures. The Trojans have been largely uncompetitive through two games at this event, losing by 15 to Villanova in Thursday’s opening round before falling by 14 to Wake Forest on Friday. USC has surrendered an average of 85.5 points and hit only nine of its 38 3-point attempts in those setbacks.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, AXS TV
ABOUT XAVIER (5-2): The Musketeers gave up 34 points and 16 rebounds to Tennessee’s starting frontcourt of Jarnell Stokes and Jeronne Maymon, which angered center Matt Stainbrook. “I’m grossly disgusted in how I played. … I take full responsibility about (us) not being ready. I can tell you that we’re going to be extremely fired up (Saturday),” Stainbrook said. Xavier forced a season-low nine turnovers and converted just three of its 10 free throws Friday – its worst performance from the foul line since a 3-for-14 effort against Cincinnati last December.
ABOUT USC (4-3): The Trojans’ long-range shooting woes continued Friday as they missed 15 of their first 16 tries and finished 5-of-25 beyond the arc – the third time they shot no better than 20 percent. USC was outscored in the paint (34-33) for the first time on Friday after holding a 209-128 advantage through its first six contests. Center Omar Oraby averaged 13.6 points and 3.6 blocks through five contests, but has amassed a total of 10 points and four blocks at this event.
TIP-INS
1. The Musketeers have surrendered 36 offensive rebounds in the Bahamas and been outscored 49-16 in second-chance points, including 26-4 on Friday.
2. USC is a combined 13-for-62 beyond the arc in its three losses.
3. Xavier won the only other meeting between the schools in 1978.
PREDICTION: Xavier 68, USC 59
