Xavier Hosts Santa Clara in Crucial Basketball Matchup

CINCINNATI, Ohio — The Xavier University Musketeers, sporting a 2-0 record, are set to face off against the Santa Clara Broncos on Monday night at 8:30 p.m. at the Cintas Center.

This game marks the final event of Xavier’s season-opening three-game homestand. The Musketeers are led in scoring by senior Malik Messina-Moore, who averages 16.5 points per game. Xavier is coming off a narrow 74-69 victory against Le Moyne, where Messina-Moore scored 17 points.

Meanwhile, Santa Clara is also 2-0 after recently defeating McNeese State. That game featured standout performances from Sash Gavalyugov, who scored 19 points, and Allen Graves, who recorded 13 rebounds and has shown promise early in the season.

Head coach Richard Pitino has stated, “It’s such a work in progress. Every game, even the exhibition games, have been close.” Pitino’s team has yet to find its offensive rhythm, creating questions among fans and analysts alike.

The Broncos are guided by head coach Herb Sendek, who has faced Xavier previously, and they are known for their aggressive three-point shooting. Elijah Mahi is the standout player for Santa Clara, averaging 16.5 points in the earlier games and displaying strong offensive skills.

Xavier’s strategy has centered around defensive rebounding, which may prove challenging against a Broncos team that made nearly 60% of their missed shots in their last contest. Xavier will need to mitigate Santa Clara’s effectiveness behind the arc, as the Broncos are keen to shoot from distance.

As Xavier seeks to maintain their winning streak, they are also aiming for their head coach’s 250th career victory. Fans can tune into the game on FS1, and live stats will be available via GoXavier.com.