St. John’s vs. Xavier final score: Musketeers improve to 3-0 in Big East play

For the first time since 2013-14, the Xavier Musketeers are 3-0 in Big East play. Xavier took care of business with a 97-82 victory over St. John’s on Saturday afternoon at Cintas Center. The Musketeers have now won six straight games.

Xavier was led by Edmond Sumner’s 20 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and three steals. In three conference games, Sumner is averaging 20.3 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game.

St. John’s freshman Marcus LoVett recorded a career-high 32 points. LoVett and fellow freshman Shamorie Ponds accounted for 53 of St. John’s 82 points.

The aforementioned Sumner was Xavier’s leading scorer, but he was just one of six Musketeers in double-figures Saturday afternoon. Kaiser Gates had a career high 17, Trevon Bluiett had 15, JP Macura had 14, and Malcolm Bernard and Tyrique Jones each had 10. Everyone knows Xavier is going to get offensive output from the big three of Sumner/Bluiett/Macura each game, but to be able to get buckets from other pieces is equally important.

The Red Storm had the same issues as they have all season: Great guard play was coupled with awful frontcourt play. Kassoum Yakwe’s sophomore struggles continued with his zero-point, two rebound performance. St. John’s is still better, across the board, than last season, but the struggles have to get frustrating when they continue to happen. However, it’s important to remember the Red Storm are still one of the nation’s youngest teams.

The Musketeers now face a tough stretch over their next three games, as they face Villanova and Butler on the road before returning home to face Creighton.

St. John’s (8-9) will head to Washington DC to face Georgetown before taking on Villanova at Madison Square Garden.