Xavier flexes its muscles in blowout opening win over Mount St. Mary's
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Xavier flexes its muscles in blowout opening win over Mount St. Mary's
Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer·The Enquirer
·
3 min read
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On the eve of Election Day,Xavier men's basketballdelivered an emphatic vote of confidence in its revamped roster with a dominant 97-52 overMount St. Mary'son Nov. 2.
After months of rebuilding, offseason fodder andthree exhibition contests, Xavier was ready when the 2026-27 season officially tipped off at Cintas Center against the Mountaineers.
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Xavier stepped on the gas early and never looked back in winning its 37th consecutive season-opener.
"I thought it was a terrific performance all around," Xavier head coach Richard Pitino said. "Besides a couple of minutes in the second half, that was about as complete of a performance as we've had since I've been here."
Pitino, who won his previous season opener last year in hold-your-breath fashion against Marist, raved about the depth of this year's team during preseason press conferences.
Xavier Musketeers guard Tru Washington (3) attempts to guard Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers forward Wilguens Jr. Exacte (7) in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers forward Noah Limol (12) blocks a layup from Xavier Musketeers forward Jovan Milicevic (24) in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
Xavier Musketeers forward Mike Nwoko (1) dunks the ball in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
Xavier Musketeers guard Tru Washington (3) dribbles past Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers guard Redd Thompson Jr. (2) in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
Xavier Musketeers guard Chance Westry (11) dunks the ball in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
Xavier Musketeers guard Filip Borovicanin (4) attempts to dribble around Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers guard Julien Smith (3) in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
Xavier Musketeers forward Nikos Chitikoudis (16) throws a pass in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
Xavier Musketeers forward Gabriel Pozzato (0) hits a shot from three-point range in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
Xavier Musketeers forward Gabriel Pozzato (0) after scoring a basket from three-point range in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
Xavier Musketeers head coach Richard Pitino reacts to a call in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
Xavier Musketeers forward Rolyns Aligbe (8) hits a layup in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
Xavier Musketeers forward Jovan Milicevic (24) looses the ball in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
1/12
Xavier opens season against Mount St. Mary's. Check out these photos
Xavier Musketeers guard Tru Washington (3) attempts to guard Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers forward Wilguens Jr. Exacte (7) in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
1/12
Xavier opens season against Mount St. Mary's. Check out these photos
Xavier Musketeers guard Tru Washington (3) attempts to guard Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers forward Wilguens Jr. Exacte (7) in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
2/12
Xavier opens season against Mount St. Mary's. Check out these photos
Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers forward Noah Limol (12) blocks a layup from Xavier Musketeers forward Jovan Milicevic (24) in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
3/12
Xavier opens season against Mount St. Mary's. Check out these photos
Xavier Musketeers forward Mike Nwoko (1) dunks the ball in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
4/12
Xavier opens season against Mount St. Mary's. Check out these photos
Xavier Musketeers guard Tru Washington (3) dribbles past Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers guard Redd Thompson Jr. (2) in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
5/12
Xavier opens season against Mount St. Mary's. Check out these photos
Xavier Musketeers guard Chance Westry (11) dunks the ball in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
6/12
Xavier opens season against Mount St. Mary's. Check out these photos
Xavier Musketeers guard Filip Borovicanin (4) attempts to dribble around Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers guard Julien Smith (3) in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
7/12
Xavier opens season against Mount St. Mary's. Check out these photos
Xavier Musketeers forward Nikos Chitikoudis (16) throws a pass in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
8/12
Xavier opens season against Mount St. Mary's. Check out these photos
Xavier Musketeers forward Gabriel Pozzato (0) hits a shot from three-point range in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
9/12
Xavier opens season against Mount St. Mary's. Check out these photos
Xavier Musketeers forward Gabriel Pozzato (0) after scoring a basket from three-point range in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
10/12
Xavier opens season against Mount St. Mary's. Check out these photos
Xavier Musketeers head coach Richard Pitino reacts to a call in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
11/12
Xavier opens season against Mount St. Mary's. Check out these photos
Xavier Musketeers forward Rolyns Aligbe (8) hits a layup in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
12/12
Xavier opens season against Mount St. Mary's. Check out these photos
Xavier Musketeers forward Jovan Milicevic (24) looses the ball in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
That depth was on display as Xavier flexed its muscles on both ends of the floor. After getting a wake-up call by Kent State in its final exhibition contest, Xavier opened Monday's contest on a 13-0 run, highlighted by two Jovan Milicevic 3-pointers and newcomer Mike Nwoko's first points as a Musketeer came on a thunderous alley-oop.
In the first half, Xavier had nine different players make a basket while shooting 58.8% from the field and 50% from downtown (8-for-16). Xavier led, 39-5, shortly after the under-eight media timeout and held the visiting Mountaineers to just 5-for-30 (16.7%) shooting in the opening stanza with 11 turnovers.
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Overall, 12 different Musketeers made a bucket. Chance Westry, who started the opening exhibition game against Dayton before coming off the bench against Tennessee and Kent State, led Xavier with 17 points. Xavier also had Milicevic (14), Tru Washington (10) and Nwoko (10) in double figures.
Three more Muskies had at least seven points as Filip Borovicanin, Ruben Dominguez, Gabriel Pozzato and Rolyns Aligbe combined for 31. Xavier's offense assisted on 26 of its 35 made field goal.
"The depth of this team − it jumps off the page. There are a lot of good players on this team," Pitino said. "We gotta use our depth and wear teams out with that."
Off the bench, Nikos Chitikoudis had a game-high 11 rebounds. Xavier won on the glass, 55-33, and turned 18 offensive rebounds into 24 second-chance points. Xavier also forced 19 turnovers, leading to 29 fast break points.
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"The preparation coming into the game, not only me, but the whole team, I think was better than what it was against Kent State," Chitikoudis said. "We paid more attention to detail. We were more locked in."
Xavier begins the year with three straight home affairs before a neutral site contest against Mississippi State at The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia on Nov. 13. Next up is Eastern Michigan at Cintas Center on Nov. 6.
