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Game Preview Texas A&M-Corpus Christi @ Xavier
The Xavier Musketeers return home to the Cintas Center for the first of five straight games in Cincinnati, hosting the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders on Friday evening. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 PM ET and will air on ESPN+.
After a strong showing at the Charleston Classic, Xavier (4-3) is finding offensive rhythm under first-year coach Richard Pitino. The Musketeers are shooting nearly 40% from three and distributing the ball well with 117 assists through seven games. Their win over West Virginia featured 16 made threes on just 25 attempts.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2-4) snapped a four-game skid with a 122-75 rout of Howard Payne. The Islanders are still looking for their first road win, having gone 0-4 away from home so far this season.
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Odds and Key Information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Spread | Xavier -15.5 |
| Moneyline | Xavier -2050 / TAMU-CC +1050 |
| Total (O/U) | 146.5 |
| Venue | Cintas Center, Cincinnati, OH |
| Time & Date | Friday, November 28, 2025 – 5:30 PM ET |
| TV Coverage | ESPN+ |
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Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Outlook
The Islanders enter this matchup with offensive momentum after setting a school record for points in a game. While the win came against a Division III opponent, it showcased the team’s potential, especially from leaders like Nick Shogbonyo and Sheldon Williams.
Shogbonyo is averaging 14.5 points per game, and Williams contributes 7.7 rebounds per contest. The Islanders rank 52nd nationally in field goal attempts per game (65.0) and average 16.8 assists, suggesting a team-oriented offensive approach.
Defensively, the Islanders are still a work in progress, allowing 74.5 points per game. To stay competitive, they’ll need to control the glass and limit second-chance opportunities—a challenge against Xavier’s size and spacing.
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Xavier Outlook
The Musketeers are trending upward, despite a 4-3 record. They’ve covered the spread in their last three contests and are starting to click offensively. Tre Carroll leads the team with 15.9 points per game, while Jovan Milicevic averages 13.7 and leads the squad with 19 made threes.
Xavier is 4-1 at home and ranks 30th nationally in made three-pointers per game (10.9), hitting them at a 39% clip. The backcourt trio of Roddie Anderson III, Filip Borovicanin, and Malik Messina-Moore has combined for over 60 assists, highlighting strong ball movement.
With 13 new players on the roster, Xavier is beginning to build chemistry, and their inside-out attack has been effective against teams with weaker perimeter defenses.
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Key Matchup Table
| Matchup Stat | Advantage |
|---|---|
| Three-Point Shooting | Xavier |
| Turnovers Forced | Xavier |
| Rebounding | TAMU-Corpus Christi |
| Assists Per Game | Xavier |
| Bench Scoring | Xavier |
| Field Goal Attempts | TAMU-Corpus Christi |
Betting Trends
- Xavier is 3-0 ATS in their last 3 games.
- Xavier is 4-1 SU at home this season.
- TAMU-CC is 0-4 SU and 1-3 ATS in road games.
- Xavier is 6-1 to the under in their last 7 home games.
- TAMU-CC has hit the over in 4 of its last 6 games.
- The Musketeers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games as a double-digit favorite.
- The Islanders have allowed 80+ points in 3 of their last 5 games.
- Xavier has made 10+ threes in 5 straight contests.
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Prediction
Xavier’s recent form, perimeter shooting, and ball movement make them a tough matchup for a Texas A&M-Corpus Christi team that has yet to find consistency on the road. Expect Xavier to control tempo early, stretch the defense with threes, and exploit mismatches on the wing.
That said, the Islanders’ ability to push tempo and shoot at volume makes them a backdoor cover candidate—especially if Xavier begins to rotate late in the game.
Projected Score: Xavier 78, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 65
Spread Pick: TAMU-Corpus Christi +15.5
Total Lean: Under 146.5
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