Xavier Bounces Back with Road Victory Against DePaul
Desperate for a win to recover from what head coach Sean Miller called a “low point” after Tuesday’s disappointing loss to St. John’s, the Xavier Musketeers turned things around in a big way. They secured their first road victory in 315 days, defeating DePaul 77-63 on Saturday afternoon at Wintrust Arena. It wasn’t just a win—it was a statement.
Road victories have been hard to come by for Xavier recently, with just four such wins since the start of last season. Interestingly, two of those wins have now come against DePaul, making this latest victory particularly satisfying. Reflecting on the game, Miller said, “It was a big game for us. Especially after how the last game felt, I thought we were overwhelmed. You can really lose your confidence. Nobody's going to give it back to you—you have to work together to find it. Today was that opportunity.”
A Battle with History and Confidence
Xavier’s struggles on the road were compounded by the weight of history. DePaul’s last Big East victory, back in January 2023, was against then-No. 8 Xavier—a loss that had robbed the Musketeers of a share in the Big East regular-season title. But Saturday was about redemption. Xavier not only avenged that bitter loss but also cemented back-to-back wins in Chicago against a rebuilding DePaul team.
“We leave here excited about the win,” said Miller. And who wouldn’t be? Winning on the road, regardless of the opponent, is no easy feat in the Big East.
Dominance in the First Half: Xavier Finds Its Groove
Xavier didn’t exactly explode out of the gates on Saturday. In fact, for much of the first half, it looked like DePaul might give them more trouble than expected. The Blue Demons hit five three-pointers to grab a 20-17 lead by the under-8 media timeout.
But then, Xavier flipped the script. Jerome Hunter’s three-pointer gave the Musketeers their first lead at 22-20, and they never looked back. Xavier closed the half on a dominant 21-3 run, showcasing patience on offense and physicality on defense. Hunter’s energy on the boards was electric, capping the half with two clutch putbacks, including a tip-in at the buzzer. Heading into the locker room, Xavier had built a commanding 38-23 lead.
“Every game is hard. Every team wants to win,” Hunter said. “Winning a game in the Big East means a lot, and we have to keep reeling them off.”
Defensive Toughness: Limiting DePaul’s Chances
Xavier’s defensive effort on Saturday was a far cry from their struggles earlier in the week against St. John’s, who racked up 20 offensive rebounds in their win. This time, the Musketeers focused on controlling the perimeter, knowing DePaul shoots three-pointers at one of the highest rates in the country (48.4%).
The strategy paid off. DePaul managed just two offensive rebounds in the first half and zero second-chance points. Overall, Xavier dominated the glass with a 36-28 rebounding edge and held the Blue Demons to just 39.6% shooting from the field.
Balanced Offense Steals the Show
Offensively, Xavier’s performance was as balanced as it was effective. Seven different Musketeers scored at least five points, showcasing the team’s depth. Zach Freemantle led the way with 20 points, while Ryan Conwell added 19 in a breakout performance.
Conwell’s contributions were particularly noteworthy. After going 0-for-3 in the first half, he found his rhythm in the second, scoring 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including two three-pointers. His seven free throws (on seven attempts) didn’t hurt either. “I thought a couple of those threes going in—you could just see the weight of the world come off his shoulders,” Miller said.
“It was definitely big for me,” Conwell added. “I put so much time in the gym, and I trust my work. My teammates and coaches believe in me so much, and I knew if I stayed focused, it was gonna come together.”
Key Lineup Shake-Up
A noteworthy adjustment in Xavier’s lineup saw sophomore Dailyn Swain inserted into the starting five, while Freemantle, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, came off the bench for the second time in three games.
Swain ran into foul trouble in the first half, but his playmaking ability shone in the second. When DePaul trimmed the lead to 11 on three separate occasions, Swain’s contributions in transition helped Xavier extend the margin to as many as 22 points.
Building Momentum: Next Stop, Cintas Center
With back-to-back wins over DePaul and Seton Hall—arguably the weakest teams in the Big East—Xavier is starting to build some momentum. But the Musketeers know the real test lies ahead.
On Tuesday, they return home to face a surging Villanova squad at Cintas Center. After a rocky 3-4 start, Villanova has turned things around, winning eight of their last nine games and sitting at 4-1 in Big East play. “We have to build on this and bring it back home,” said Miller. “I think all of us are excited to see our students back at Cintas Center on Tuesday. They make such a big difference for us.”
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