Takeaways from Xavier’s win over Missouri State

Any concerns that Xavier had a trap game between an emotional Crosstown Shootout win in front of a record home crowd and the start of Big East play vs. Creighton were dismissed Dec. 12.

It just took one half of basketball for those worries to be dispelled.

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One week after defeating UC, Xavier returned to Cintas Center Dec. 12 and handled its business in a 75-57 victory over Missouri State. Xavier overcame a sluggish first half where the Musketeers couldn’t find any rhythm and led by just three at the intermission.

Xavier came out of the locker room like a different team and turned on the jets with a 17-0 run to stretch its lead to as many as 21 to win its fifth straight game.

Xavier wraps up the non-conference at 8-3

It was only 32 days ago when Xavier fans exited Cintas Center in disgust after the Musketeers were run off its home court by Santa Clara. A few days later, Xavier was handed its second-straight 19-point loss by Iowa to fall to 2-2 and looked like a team that would be lucky to hover around .500 for the rest of the season.

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Since then, Xavier has ripped off a 6-1 stretch to reshape the outlook on the rest of the season. At 8-3, it’s an identical non-conference record as Xavier’s last two NCAA Tournament teams.

Last season’s Musketeers were 8-3 heading into Big East play after a Crosstown Shootout loss. During the 2022-23 campaign, Xavier won its final four non-conference games to get to 8-3 and were in the Sweet 16 three months later.

Xavier Musketeers forward Tre Carroll (12) drives the ball in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Missouri State Bears, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.

Xavier pulls away from Missouri State in second half

Leading just 39-35 early in the second half, Xavier ripped off a deciding 17-0 run against the upset-minded Bears. That stretch was started by a 3-pointer from Filip Borovicanin, who would connect again from distance just two minutes…

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Publish date : 2025-12-13 01:54:00

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