LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- J.P. Macura doesnt know why but for some reason his shot hadnt been falling quite right during Xaviers first couple of games.But that changed -- quickly -- during the 11-ranked Musketeers 83-77 victory over Clemson on Friday in the second round of the Tire Pros Invitational. The junior guard hit his first 3-pointer in the first 58 seconds, then exchanged a little trash talk with Clemson forward Jaron Blossomgame. It was on from there.Macura surpassed his career high with 23 points in the first half and finished with 28 in a battle of two strong-willed teams.I started the season off not shooting the ball very well and my teammates did a great job of getting me the ball, said Macura, whose previous career high was 21 points. I had all the confidence in the world when I was shooting and we just had a great team victory today.The Musketeers jumped out to an early double-digit lead due in large part to their patience and getting the ball to the open man, which was often Macura. He was 5 for 6 from 3-point in the first 20 minutes, and Edmond Sumner (11 points) and Trevon Bluiett (21 points) showed great patience in making the extra pass to find Macura.Macura scored just five points in the second half, ending the game shooting 10 of 12 from the field and going 6-for-11 from 3-point range. But his contribution was just enough to prevent Clemson from completing its numerous comeback attempts.His teammates really wanted to find him. He has that ability, said Xavier coach Chris Mack, whose team moved to 3-0 as it heads into the championship game on Sunday. He had a huge game in the first half and he made some big-time plays in the second half as well.But the Tigers made it interesting at the end, pulling to 81-77 in the final 7 seconds after several lapses by Xavier on both ends of the floor. The game wasnt secured until Bluiett hit two free throws with 6 seconds remaining.It was the second close win for the Musketeers after they escaped Missouri with a one-point win in overtime Thursday.It was really fun, Macura said. Clemson is a very good basketball team and I think we came together as a team and played great team basketball.We played well on the defensive end and we just need to keep doing this.BIG PICTUREClemson: All five of the Tigers starters are double-figure scorers. Their problem on Friday was discipline and not giving enough effort on the defensive end. Macura was allowed to hit too many open 3-pointers.Xavier: The Tigers are talented but they are soft inside and that is where the difference came. They were outscored 36-28 in the paint.POLL IMPLICATIONSXavier: A win over a quality opponent like the ACCs Clemson should bolster the Musketeers standing.SHOWING RESPECTClemson coach Brad Brownell was proud of his team played, but recognized it was tough to beat an Xavier team that converted 53 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point range for the game. The Musketeers seemed to have an answer for every run Clemson made.When Xavier shoots the ball like that theyre going to be hard to beat, Brownell said.DOMINATING THE PAINTOther players scored more points for Xavier but no contribution was perhaps bigger than center Sean OMara in the paint. He was 4 for 4 from the field and 2 for 2 from the free throw line to finish with 10 points.UP NEXTClemson: The Tigers will play the loser of the Northern Iowa-Oklahoma game for third place Sunday.Xavier: The Musketeers will play the Northern Iowa-Oklahoma winner in the championship game Sunday night.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Vapormax Flyknit 3 White And Black . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. Vapormax 2019 White . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. http://www.vapormaxcheapoutlet.com/clearance-vapormax-2019/vapormax-2019-south-beach.html . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. Vapormax Plus Photo Blue .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. Vapormax Flyknit Cool Grey . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith says hes flummoxed by South Sydneys diabolical NRL run but hes not about to start underestimating the Rabbitohs ahead of their Saturday night clash.The high-flying Storm host the stricken Souths, who havent won for two months, at AAMI Park.Its a streak that means the Rabbitohs will miss the finals for the first time in five years and Smith is as perplexed as anyone as to the root causes.I think everyone involved in the game has been surprised with the way theyve been playing, he said on Tuesday.Theyre a quality side.Ive got no idea whats going on inside their camp ... and its none of our business.Were going to prepare (like) theyre going to come down and play well.Sundays 54-4 loss to Canberra might have been South Sydneys nadir, while hours earlier the Storm became the first team to beat North Queensland in Townsville for a year.The contrasting form-lines suggest a belting is on the cards and Smith has warned the Storm are only going to lift their efforts from here on in.Smith and Queensland teammate Cooper Cronk are ramping up their traininng following the Origin period and are set on awakening an on-field partnership.ddddddddddddCooper and I have spoken to the coaches over the last week and were really looking forward to getting back with the squad now full-time, he said.Its been nearly two months since we trained regularly with the squad. That brings a lack of cohesion.Youve probably seen a little bit of that over the last couple of weeks with our attack.Melbourne are just a point behind league leaders Cronulla and have the minor premiership to play for but Smith insisted their focus was playing good football and not finishing top.Weve got a tough run home. Souths (13th) this week and Raiders (3rd). Then Manly (11th) who are in good form and then two of the big teams in the comp, Broncos (6th) and Cronulla (1st).Theres no goal on winning the minor premiership or anything like that.We need to be playing our best every week to win those matches and Cooper and I need to be playing well. ' ' '