Xavier aims to rebound from a tough week and get one more critical tune-up for a rivalry matchup when it hosts Morgan State on Tuesday night in Cincinnati.
The Musketeers (7-2) were ranked No. 22 in the AP poll two weeks ago but fell out after a 25-point loss to Michigan in the Fort Myers Tip-Off tournament final on Nov. 27.
Xavier then barely escaped with a 71-68 home win over South Carolina State on Dec. 1 before losing 76-72 at TCU on Thursday.
Dante Maddox Jr. came off the bench to score nine points in 20 minutes on three 3-pointers against the Horned Frogs. He also grabbed six rebounds before fouling out.
The Musketeers have been waiting for the Toledo transfer to add a punch to an underwhelming bench cast that many thought would be a strength for Xavier coming into the season.
“I really feel like you can almost be baited into a false sense of how deep your team is because you’re around guys every day and have a good, older group, which we do,” Musketeers coach Sean Miller said.
“You see the good in a lot of different guys. It’s not until you get 8 to 10, 10 to 15 games in when you truly understand how deep your team is.”
Maddox hit a 3-pointer and started a fastbreak with a steal that gave Xavier a 60-54 lead with 7:28 remaining, but the Musketeers faded down the stretch and lost for the second time in three games. Maddox is averaging 4.7 points per game, while Ryan Conwell leads the team with 16.6.
Tuesday’s game will be the last chance for Xavier to straighten up before visiting No. 22 Cincinnati on Saturday for the teams’ annual intense crosstown showdown.
Morgan State (5-7) is coming off a 102-81 road loss at Bowling Green on Saturday.
Preseason All-MEAC First Team selection Will Thomas led the Bears with 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, while Kameron Hobbs scored 12 points off the bench. Amahrie Simpkins made all five of his field-goal attempts to add 11 points and Wynston Tabbs had 10 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Tabbs leads Morgan State in scoring this season at 16.8 points per game, while Simpkins (12.8) and Thomas (12.2) round out the Bears’ double-digit scorers.
The Bears have struggled away from home, losing all five road contests this season.
–Field Level Media
