National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Xavier 67, Tennessee 63
When: 9:00 PM ET, Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Where: Cintas Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Officials: # Doug Shows, # Mike Roberts, # Michael Stephens
Attendance: 9878

Xavier 67, Tennessee 63: Semaj Christon scored 18 points as the host Musketeers handed the Volunteers their first loss in their past 15 season openers.

Christon was 7-of-13 from the field and Matt Stainbrook had 12 points and nine rebounds for Xavier (2-0), which opened the season with an 83-59 victory over Gardner-Webb. Myles Davis scored 13 points, including the team’s only two 3-pointers as the Musketeers went 2-of-8 from long range.

Jordan McRae scored 23 points and Josh Richardson added 13 for Tennessee (0-1). Senior forward Jeronne Maymon, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, had seven points and 10 rebounds - seven on the offensive end.

Tennessee’s Antonio Barton scored all 10 of his points in the second half, and his 3-pointer with 13:05 remaining pulled the Volunteers within 39-37. Davis answered with a 3-pointer of his own, and the Musketeers went ahead by as much as 60-50 with 2:40 remaining before having to withstand another rally by the Volunteers that made it a two-point game again in the closing seconds.

The Volunteers came out ice cold, hitting only one of their first 17 shots from the field as the Musketeers raced out to a 14-4 lead. Xavier led 27-20 at halftime, with McRae’s 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting - the rest of the team was 3-of-20 - keeping Tennessee within striking distance.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Both teams struggled from the free-throw line, with Tennessee going 7-of-19 and Xavier 13-of-24. … Christon has scored in double digits in 21 straight games. … The teams might meet again later this month. They are both playing in the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas, and if they each win (or lose) their tournament opener they will play Nov. 29.
Top Game Performances
 
Tennessee   Xavier
Jordan McRae 23 Scoring Semaj Christon 18
Jordan McRae 5 Assists Brandon Randolph 4
Jeronne Maymon 10 Rebounds Matt Stainbrook 9
Jordan McRae 4 Free Throws Made Myles Davis 5
Antonio Barton 2 Steals Semaj Christon 1
Jarnell Stokes 3 Blocks Matt Stainbrook 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Tennessee 63 42.1 8-19 7-19 13 33 7 6 11
Xavier 67 48.1 2-8 13-24 12 35 5 4 16