Xavier TEAM 99 Update- Game 3 Report-Bottom line-Muskies are 3-0 after 3 games in 3 days- X was stressed BIG TIME by Toledo in Game 3 Friday afternoon at Cintas-trailing by as many as 10 points-leading for just 7 minutes-adjusting to Zach Freemantle's acute game long foul trouble

XU won 76-73 vs a TU team that sniped 10 of 19 from "3" and outscored Muskies by 5 from FT line. Covid 19 impacted the game w/ Xavier shorthanded again-sans Colby Jones and C.J. Wilcher in virus protocol plus Adam Kunkel waiting for NCAA to rule on his red shirt waiver request.

Friday Fox TV had a crew problem courtesy of Covid so no FS1 live telecast. Luckily, Steele Family covered me w/ a ticket. The game intensity was terrific! Sorry most of you couldn't see it. Toledo runs patient patterned offense. Rockets started 10-2 winning the 1st 4 minute war.

Freemantle was tagged w/ two early tick tack fouls(moving screen-then bump on "D" when his man was warding off). Travis took him out then reinserted #32. X was struggling to score missing open looks. Muskies scored on a driving lay-up. Freemantle celebrated w/ "It's a bucket"

plus a fist pump. The Ref apparently heard " F- -K it" not "bucket". The Zebra must be from Lucas County-maybe Maumee or Perrysburg or Sylvania or Ottawa Hills-some Toledo suburb. Zach does have a North Jersey twang. Anyway-Technical Foul-off to the bench. Free played a total of

just 16 minutes(9 points-4 rebounds) vs his usual 35. X adjusted. Bring on that adversity!! Zach was not pleased w/ his game. Despite playing 3 games in 3 days w/ family in town Freemantle was seen headed to the Aux Gym w/ a manager after the game to put up shots. It was a nip

and tuck afternoon vs a tough motivated opponent. XU trailed 38-34 at the half struggling w/ 3 pointers-unable to string defensive stops vs a crisp Toledo offense(just two KILLS for Muskies). X kept trying to climb the hill aftger halftime and TU kept getting matching buckets.

Muskies took their 1st lead w/12:20 left on a Jason Carter "3". Coach Steele scrapped his offense and spread the floor w/ a small line-up featuring 4 guards Dwon Odom-Kyky Tandy-Nate Johnson and Paul Scruggs plus 6-9 Carter. It worked!! Xavier attacked the bucket and finally

kicked the ball out for open "3s"Scuggs, Johnson, Tandy in quick order. Odom, Scruggs and Tandy blew by their guards repeatedly and scrambled the TU defense. Carter owned the glass(13 rebounds after grabbing 11 vs Bradley). Tandy(career high 24 points) put XU up for good w/ a

left corner "3" w/ 1:29 to play. Odom drove hard to the baseline right side and zipped a brilliant pass to Kyky in stride for the bucket. Odom then blocked a shot. X got a stop and Tandy was fouled w/ Muskies in the double bonus. Bang-bang two FTS and a 5 point lead at 70-65 w/

1:01 left. Toledo kept balling. Scruggs hit a stick back lane floater and made two FTs despite fighting leg cramps(31-39 and 39 hard minutes in 3 days explains that). Paul ended up w/ 15 points-6 rebounds-7 assists to 1 turnover and 4 steals. Xavier Invitational MVP if they even

named an MVP and you can retire the trophy!! Scruggs told Travis he was cramping. Steele looked down the bench and told him to drink some water. He had no subs.X survived 76-73 for 3-0. Dwon Odom played great PG(8 points-6 assists-5 rebounds-2 blocks). Tandy scored the ball

attacked the rim and dug in on defense. Steele told Kyky to flush the Bradley game(just 4 points for him in 18 minutes) and play harder vs Toledo. "We need you" said Travis. Tandy responded w 24 points-3 boards and 3 assists. It was gritty! It was intense! It was learning on the

fly w/o losing. Now X can take a small breath-maybe Saturday off and Sunday to prep for Eastern Kentucky (OVC)Monday at Cintas-7PM on FS1. It's OVC Tennessee Tech Wednesday 7PM at Cintas then the 88th Crosstown Shootout a week from Sunday in Clifton-3PM.