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X Rolls Past Detroit Mercy to Stay Unbeaten
By
Musketeer Madness,
11/10/2026
Xavier continued its dominant start to the 2026–27 season Tuesday night, overwhelming Detroit Mercy 100–55 at Cintas Center to improve to 3–0 under head coach Richard Pitino. Mike Nwoko led five Musketeers in double figures with 17 points as Xavier used relentless defensive pressure, efficient interior scoring and unselfish ball movement to cruise to its third consecutive victory.
The Musketeers wasted little time taking control, scoring the game’s first 10 points and forcing Detroit Mercy into an early timeout just 91 seconds after tipoff. Jovan Milicevic connected from beyond the arc, Nwoko scored inside and Tru Washington added a three-pointer to fuel the opening surge. Xavier never trailed, building a commanding 43–20 halftime advantage before pouring in another 57 points after intermission.
Nwoko delivered another impressive performance in the paint, converting 8 of 9 field-goal attempts while collecting five rebounds and three assists in just 18 minutes. Reserve Kalek House provided an offensive spark with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting, while Washington contributed 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Chance Westry added 13 points and four assists off the bench, helping Xavier maintain its intensity throughout the contest.
Xavier’s offensive execution was particularly impressive. The Musketeers shot 52.6 percent from the floor, making 40 of 76 attempts, and recorded 30 assists against just nine turnovers. Milicevic directed the offense with six assists and eight points, while Filip Borovicanin contributed eight rebounds and five assists. Xavier also received 10 rebounds from reserve Nikos Chitikoudis, who added six points without missing a field-goal attempt.
The Musketeers controlled the interior, outscoring Detroit Mercy 60–16 in the paint and dominating the rebounding battle 52–37. Xavier’s aggressive defense forced 17 turnovers, converted those mistakes into 29 points and generated 28 fast-break points. The Titans struggled to find any offensive rhythm, shooting just 28.4 percent from the field and 25 percent from three-point range.
Detroit Mercy, which fell to 0–2, received a team-high 14 points from reserve Greg Grays Jr., who made five of his 10 field-goal attempts. Tyler Spratt added eight points, but the Titans’ starting five combined for only 16 points. Detroit Mercy shot just 6 of 32 from the field in the first half, allowing Xavier to establish a comfortable lead before the break.
Xavier’s depth proved equally significant, with its reserves contributing 47 points. The Musketeers shot 55.8 percent in the second half, converting 24 of 43 field-goal attempts while outscoring the Titans 57–35. Although Xavier connected on only 8 of 35 three-point attempts, its ability to create high-percentage opportunities near the basket and capitalize on turnovers made the perimeter struggles largely irrelevant.
The victory completed a perfect three-game season-opening homestand for Xavier, which previously defeated Mount St. Mary’s 97–52 and Eastern Michigan 76–53. The Musketeers now face a considerably tougher test Friday, November 13, when they meet Mississippi State in the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Tipoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.
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