Defense in 2nd half keys Xavier road win
KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) Travis Taylor grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds en route to his eighth double-double of the year as Xavier won 55-42 at Rhode Island Wednesday night.
Taylor added 13 points and Semaj Christon had 16 on 8-of-8 free-throw shooting for the Musketeers (16-10, 9-4 Atlantic 10 Conference).
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Xavier trailed 33-32 with 14:44 left when Christon made two free throws to spark a 10-0, nearly 6-minute run. After allowing five quick points, the Musketeers held Rhode Island to just one free throw from the 7:49 mark until allowing a made jumper with 23 seconds remaining.
Xavier improved to 2-7 this season when scoring fewer than 60 points.
The Rams (8-17, 3-9) dropped their sixth straight and 18th of 19 in the rivalry. Xavier Munford recorded 15 points on 5-of-17 shooting, including a 3-of-12 showing from 3-point range. Rhode Island shot just 24.1 percent (13 of 54) and was 5-of-30 shooting from deep.