Ryan Conwell will try to continue the impressive start at his new program when the Xavier Musketeers host the Jackson State Tigers on Tuesday night in Cincinnati.
The transfer from Indiana State is averaging 20 points in his first two games with Xavier, scoring 21 and 19 points in two home wins. Jackson State is playing its third straight road game to open the season and will be looking for its first win after falling to High Point 80-71 on Saturday.
While Xavier has improved its offensive rebounding since the first 20 minutes of its season, it is trying to do the same with its 3-point defense. The Musketeers surrendered six offensive rebounds that turned into 10 second-chance points in the first half of their opener against Texas Southern, falling behind by as many as nine points.
Since that point, Xavier has won the rebounding battle 45-38, allowing only 11 second-chance points. The problem for Xavier has been its defense against the 3-point shot. Texas Southern and IU Indy went a combined 24 of 51 from beyond the arc.
IU Indy drained 14 of its 28 shots from long distance Friday as Xavier struggled to put the Jaguars away.
“We have to get better on our end defending the 3-point shot,” Xavier coach Sean Miller said. “We have to fix the leak in the roof and be better in that area. When you give up 14 of 28 from three, that’s a concern.”
After getting blown out 97-40 at No. 4 Houston in its season opener Nov. 4, Jackson State rebounded with a more respectable effort on the road at High Point, N.C., on Saturday.
The Tigers trailed by as many as 23 with 3:33 remaining in the first half before outscoring High Point 52-38 the rest of the way. The Tigers outscored the Panthers 26-20 in the paint as Romelle Mansel led Jackson State with 22 points and Jayme Mitchell Jr. added 18 off the bench.
Jackson State is playing the third of 13 straight road games to open the season and won’t play at home until Jan. 11.
–Field Level Media
