Scruggs scores 21, leads depleted Xavier over Ohio
Paul Scruggs found out shortly before the opening tip that Xavier would be missing its point guard. He moved into the role and had a career night.
The sophomore scored 21 points and set career highs with eight assists and four steals Wednesday night, steadying Xavier’s illness-depleted lineup to its fourth straight victory, 82-61 over Ohio in Cincinnati.
The Musketeers (6-3) were missing point guard Quentin Goodin, who missed practice this week because of illness. Scruggs took over, played 31 minutes and made Xavier’s biggest plays as it pulled away in the second half.
“I knew for sure probably an hour and a half before the game started,” Scruggs said. “It was like even without Q, we’ve got to execute plays and play good on defense.”
Coach Travis Steele said Goodin has been sick for at least three days.
Naji Marshall had 15 points and a team-high seven rebounds, and Tyrique Jones added 15 points for Xavier, which went 16 of 22 from the field in the second half. Jones took a charge, went down hard, held his head for several minutes and was helped off the court with 2:11 left.
Ohio (5-3) fell behind by 13 points at the outset before rallying and turning it into a back-andforth game. Scruggs had a pair of baskets and a free throw during a 9-1 run that put the Musketeers ahead 65-55 with seven minutes left.
NO. 3 DUKE 84, HARTFORD 54: Freshman RJ Barrett had 27 points and a season-best 15 rebounds, and Duke (8-1) pulled away to rout Hartford (3-7) in Durham, North Carolina. Zion Williamson added 18 points and 12 rebounds. MINNESOTA 85, NO. 24 NEBRASKA 78: Amir Coffey scored 32 points and host Minnesota (7-2, 1-1) overcame a 13-point deficit in the second half to defeat Nebraska (7-1, 1-1) in Big Ten play. Isaac Copeland Jr. had 17 points to pace the Cornhuskers, who led 55-42 early in the second half and 69-60 with 7:54 to play. The Gophers took the lead for good at 74-73 when Jordan Murphy made two free throws with 3:01 left. Murphy finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds. TOLEDO 101, DETROIT MERCY 57: Nate Navigato made five 3-pointers and led five players into double-figure scoring with 19 points and six assists as Toledo (8-1) clobbered Detroit Mercy (3-7) in Toledo. Toledo made 33 of 64 from the field, 52 percent, and hit 14 from 3-point distance. MIAMI 65, WRIGHT STATE 62: Bam Bowman scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds, Isaiah ColemanLands hit a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer, and Miami (4-4) beat Wright State (4-5) in Dayton. Coleman-Lands sank a contested 3 from the wing in between two defenders. NCAA PENALIZES OREGON FOR VIOLATIONS: The NCAA imposed two years of probation on Oregon after finding the school violated rules related to the men’s and women’s basketball teams and the track and field program. The decision said women’s basketball coach Kelly Graves failed to “monitor and promote an atmosphere of compliance in his program.” He must serve a two-game suspension this season. The NCAA found men’s coach Dana Altman failed to properly monitor his director of basketball operations, who took part in or observed at least 64 individual voluntary workouts in violation of NCAA rules. Hartford’s J.R. Lynch attempts a shot as Duke’s Tre Jones defends during Wednesday’s game.