Score: Morgan State 58 | Xavier 119
Location: Cintas Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Records: Morgan State 5-8 | Xavier 8-2
The short story:  Zach Freemantle scored 16 of his game—high 27 points in the first half to help Xavier race to a 119-58 win against Morgan State on Tuesday night at Cintas Center.
 

OPENING TIP

• Freemantle shot an efficient on 8-of-11 from the field, including 2-for-3 from 3-point territory and had 10 rebounds in 22 minutes.
• Xavier also had double-figure scoring from Marcus Foster (18 pts, 4-6 3FG), Ryan Conwell (15 pts, 2-2 3FG), Dayvion McKnight (11 pts, 4 rebs), and Dan Maddox Jr. (11 pts, 4 assists). 
• Amahrie Simpkins led the Bears in scoring with 13 points (5-14 FG) with four boards. Kameron Hobbs added 11 points. 
• Wynston Tabbs and Marland Harris chipped in 8 points apiece.

THE DIFFERENCE

• Xavier connected on 60 percent (41-68) from the field and 67 percent (12-18) from behind the arc while the Bears shot 36 percent (22-61) from the field and connected on just 2-of-10 3-pointers.
• Morgan shot 12-for-22 (55%) from the free throw line, compared to Xaviers' 74 percent (25-34).
• The Musketeers held a 56-30 scoring advantage inside the paint and scored 16 points off of 10 Morgan turnovers.
• Morgan held a 39-35 advantage on the glass, including 16 offensive boards.
• Morgan's bench scored 34 points, compared to BGSU's 22.
• The Musketeers led wire-to-wire.  Freemantle scored his first 5 points to help Xavier take a 7-1 lead in the early moments.  The Bears trailed 16-7 after Amahrie Simpkins hit a turnaround jumper with just under 16 minutes to go. However, a jumper in the paint by Swain helped spark a 20-2 run by the Musketeers. A reverse dunk by Freemantle extended the lead to 38-11 with 8 minutes left in the half.
• The Musketeers held a commanding 52-39 halftime lead.
• Xavier surged ahead with a staggering 49-point lead, standing at 96-47 with less than eight minutes left in the second half. The Musketeers found their rhythm from beyond the arc as Cam'Ron Fletcher, Conway and Foster connected on three straight triples.
• The Musketeers outscored the Bears by a 67-34 margin in the second half.

NOTABLE

• The win by Xavier improves their series record against Morgan to 5-0.
• Morgan's road record falls to 0-6.
• The 119 points was the most allowed by the Bears since a 122-59 loss against #12 University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona on November 6, 2023.
  

• The Bears return to Hill Field House for a Sunday (December 15) non-conference matchup against the Campbell Camels. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.