CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Xavier used a dominant first-half run and a balanced scoring attack to pull away from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for an 88-67 victory in a non-conference men’s basketball game Friday night at Cintas Center.

A crowd of 9,314 watched the Musketeers improve to 5-3 on the season, while the Islanders fell to 2-5.

The game was tightly contested in the opening minutes, with Xavier holding a narrow 17-14 lead midway through the first half. The Musketeers then seized control with a decisive 26-7 run, fueled by stifling defense and efficient three-point shooting. The spurt gave Xavier a commanding 43-21 advantage, and the Musketeers carried a 43-33 lead into halftime.

Xavier’s offensive execution was key, as the team shot 12 of 28 from three-point range, a stark contrast to the Islanders’ 4-of-15 performance from beyond the arc. The Musketeers also shared the ball effectively, finishing with 16 assists compared to just three for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Defensively, Xavier’s length and activity caused problems all night. The Musketeers blocked seven shots and recorded six steals, while committing only five turnovers. The Islanders, conversely, turned the ball over 10 times and struggled to find consistent offense against Xavier’s interior defense.

The second half saw Xavier maintain its double-digit lead, methodically extending it as the Islanders could not mount a sustained challenge. The Musketeers outscored Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 45-34 after the break to secure the 21-point victory.

Xavier’s win was a collective effort, with six players scoring at least eight points. Jovan Milicevic, a 6-foot-10 forward from Toronto, led the way with 14 points. Anthony Robinson, a 6-foot-10 center from Atlanta, added 12 points, while Tre Carroll, a 6-foot-7 forward from Port Charlotte, Florida, chipped in 11 points, four assists and two blocks.

Filip Borovicanin, a 6-foot-9 forward from Belgrade, Serbia, filled the stat sheet with 10 points, five assists and two blocks. Malik Messina-Moore, a 6-foot-5 guard from Ventura, California, directed the offense with five assists to go with nine points.

For Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, DA Houston was the primary offensive threat, finishing with 13 points and three assists. Sheldon Williams, a 6-foot-8 forward from Atmore, Alabama, and Nicholas Shogbonyo each added nine points.

Xavier finished the game shooting 45.6 percent from the field, while the Islanders were held to 38.8 percent shooting. The Musketeers also capitalized on their free-throw opportunities, making 14 of 24 attempts, while Texas A&M-Corpus Christi connected on just 11 of 20 from the line.

The game’s result followed the pregame projections, as Xavier was a heavy favorite and the combined score of 155 fell under the projected total.

Xavier will look to build on the win when it hosts Saint Francis (PA) on Monday. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi continues its challenging early-season schedule with a road game at Lamar on Dec. 6.