Balanced scoring attack leads Xavier past Tennessee Tech

The Xavier Musketeers improved to an NCAA-best 5-0 Wednesday night with a 79-48 win over the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Cintas Center.

Gardner Webb transfer Nate Johnson led the way for the Musketeers with 16 points, as Johnson was one of six Musketeers to have at least eight points. Zach Freemantle and Paul Scruggs had 14 (Scruggs also nine assists, one off a season-high), KyKy Tandy had 10, Bryan Griffin had nine, and DWon Odom had eight.

The Musketeers started a bit slow, but after the first ten minutes or so they got in the zone and started pulling away, taking a 35-21 lead into the half.

The second half was all Muskteers, outscoring Tennessee Tech 44-27 and shooting 57% from the field en route to the victory.

In all, it was a nice change of pace from the past three Xavier games, all of which had been one-possession wins. This was more along the lines of the season opening blowout against Oakland, which Travis Steele and company surely prefer.

Kenny White Jr led Tennessee Tech with 13 points.

Xavier returns to action Sunday as they host Cincinnati in the Crosstown Shootout.