Over the weekend the men’s basketball team played in the Bernie Holowicki Classic in Livonia, MI., splitting their games with a win and a loss. Their record currently stands at 2-2.
Seniors Joshua Evans and Charles Campbell Jr. were the only SXU players to score more than 10 points each game and Tino Sebalj was also a consistent force off the bench.
The first game on Friday evening was played against host team Madonna University. The Cougars were down by 14 points at the conclusion of the first quarter, and were looking for an offensive surge to close the gap.
Although SXU outscored Madonna in the second half 36-31, it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit from earlier in the game.
Point guard Joshua Evans played a good game despite the loss. He recorded a double-double, scoring 22 points and collecting 14 rebounds. He also led the team with five assists.
Forward Tino Sebalj recorded seven points for SXU off the bench in his efforts to help the team.
However, the Cougars only shot 7-24 from three point range during the game. An increase on made three pointers would be critical in determining the Cougars’ success in their next game.
Saint Xavier hoped to have a short memory of their loss the previous day, looking for a win over Lawrence Technological University.
Down 52-51 in the second half, guard/forward Charles Campbell Jr. nailed a three pointer to give his team the lead. His three pointer led to a 15-4 offensive run for the Cougars, pushing them to a 74-68 win.
Led by senior point guard Maurice Chambers who scored 19 points, four of five SXU starters recorded 10 points or more. They also shot 8-17 on three pointers against LTU, an improvement from their last game against Madonna.
Sebalj was a big factor off the bench again, recording nine points on 3-3 shooting beyond the arc. His nine points against LTU was a career best at Saint Xavier.
The Cougars open CCAC play on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 7pm at Governor’s State University. Their first home game is Nov. 13, versus Mount Mercy University, scheduled for 3pm.