Bluiett, Musketeers snap out of funk
Gates responds to benching with productive game.
CINCINNATI — After consecutive road losses, No. 10 Xavier was back home and back in form.
Trevon Bluiett emerged from his shooting slump with 24 points, Kaiser Gates responded to getting dropped from the starting lineup by scoring 16, and the Musketeers routed No. 25 Creighton 92-70 Saturday.
The Musketeers (16-3, 4-2 Big East) shook up their starting lineup after back-to-back road losses at Providence and No. 1 Villanova. They had this one in hand all the way, pulling ahead by 27 points midway through the second half.
“I think we played with a little incentive today,” coach Chris Mack said. “I think we played with our backs against the wall.”
The Bluejays (14-4, 4-2) gave up a season high in points and took their most lopsided loss. All of Creighton’s losses have come against teams that were ranked in the Top 25 at the time — Baylor, Gonzaga and Seton Hall along with Xavier.
“This is different for us,” coach Greg McDermott said. “This is really the first time we’ve gotten spanked, so it’s a new experience for us and hopefully something we’re committed to not being part of the rest of the season.”
Marcus Foster and Mitch Ballock scored 16 points apiece for the Bluejays.
“We made a lot of mental errors,” Ballock said. “We got a little lazy with the ball. I think we underestimated Xavier.”
Bluiett shot 9 of 16 after an eight-game stretch in which he shot 34 percent.
Gates was dropped from the starting lineup after scoring a total of three points and taking only four shots during the two road losses. He came off the bench and had 11 points with seven rebounds as Xavier surged ahead 50-34 by halftime, the most points the Bluejays have allowed in an opening half this season.
“I came off the bench because I wasn’t producing properly,” Gates said. “I just wanted to play hard. I was a little more aggressive. I didn’t miss open shots.”
Mack got his 202nd win as Xavier’s coach, tying Pete Gillen for the school record.