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Washington Leads X Past Mississippi State, 81–63
By
Musketeer Madness,
11/14/2026
Xavier passed its first major test away from home Friday night, defeating Mississippi State 81–63 in the Greenbrier Tip-Off at Colonial Hall. Tru Washington delivered a standout performance with 21 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals, leading the Musketeers to their fourth consecutive victory to open the season. Xavier improved to 4–0 under head coach Richard Pitino, while Mississippi State suffered its first loss and fell to 3–1.
The Musketeers overcame a slow opening to seize control early. Mississippi State scored the game's first four points, but Washington answered with a three-pointer and a layup to put Xavier ahead 5–4. The Musketeers never trailed again. Washington scored eight of his team's first 11 points, providing an early spark against a Bulldogs squad that entered the night unbeaten.
Mississippi State remained within striking distance for much of the first half, trimming Xavier's lead to 28–27 with 3:34 remaining. Kalek House responded with a three-pointer, and Gabriel Pozzato followed with another from beyond the arc to ignite a decisive closing stretch. Washington added a layup before Pozzato converted a four-point play in the final seconds, sending Xavier into halftime with a 41–31 advantage.
Washington finished 8-of-14 from the field, including 2-of-5 from three-point range, while committing no turnovers in 33 minutes. Jovan Milićević added 12 points, connecting on two three-pointers and making six free throws. Nikos Chitikoudis provided an important lift off the bench with 11 points and six rebounds, while Pozzato and Ruben Dominguez contributed nine points apiece. Xavier's reserves combined for 34 points, showcasing the depth of Pitino's rotation.
The Musketeers' perimeter shooting proved particularly effective. Xavier connected on 10 of 23 three-point attempts, a 43.5% clip, while holding Mississippi State to just 4-of-29 shooting from deep, or 13.8%. Although Xavier shot 40.0% overall compared with the Bulldogs' 33.3%, its advantage from beyond the arc helped overcome a difficult night at the free-throw line, where the Musketeers converted 23 of 34 attempts.
Xavier also made its mark defensively, recording 14 steals and forcing 18 Mississippi State turnovers. The Musketeers turned those mistakes into 15 points while committing 14 turnovers themselves. They finished with a narrow 44–43 rebounding advantage and recorded 13 assists compared with seven for the Bulldogs. Mississippi State generated 18 second-chance points, but Xavier's defensive pressure and outside shooting kept the Bulldogs from turning those opportunities into a sustained comeback.
Josh Hubbard led Mississippi State with 12 points but shot just 4-of-12 from the field and 2-of-8 from three-point range. RJ Johnson added 11 points, while Willie Burnett III contributed nine. The Bulldogs scored 32 second-half points, but Xavier answered with 40 to complete an 18-point victory. It was a significant early-season result for a Musketeers team that had opened its campaign with three comfortable home victories.
Xavier returns to Cintas Center on Tuesday, November 17, to face Cleveland State at 7 p.m. Eastern. After dispatching an unbeaten SEC opponent at a neutral site, the Musketeers have additional momentum heading into the next stretch of their nonconference schedule.
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