Train Keeps on Rolling at Home for XU

Xavier improves to 4-0 in the Atlantic 10 after defeating the LaSalle Explorers 70-63. Dee Davis returned to the court after missing the last two games due to a sprained left wrist.

The Musketeers didn't start the game off on a good note as LaSalle started the game on a mini 4-0 run. Semaj was able to get Xavier back on the right course by starting a mini 4-0 run for the Musketeers that tied the game early in the first half.

A made 3-pointer from beyond NBA range by Ramon Galloway sparked the beginning of a LaSalle 5-0 run, which gave the Explorers a 9-4 lead. After a pair of made free throws by Travis Taylor, LaSalle would go on another run. This time it was a 6-0 run capped off by a dunk from Steve Zack that gave the Explorers a 15-6 lead over Xavier.

Brad Redford hit one of his three threes to pull the Musketeers within six, but yet again LaSalle would go on another run to extend the lead to 11 points. Ramon Galloway hit another long 3 during the run to give the Explorers a 20-9 lead with 9:47 left in the first half.

From that point on the Musketeers would end the half on an extremely positive note. Xavier ended the half on a 26-7 run that gave them the lead at halftime. Jeff Robinson gave Xavier and the Cintas Center a spark by converting two dunks in the last 1:49 of the first half. The second dunk was a tip dunk off a missed Semaj Christon shot that brought everyone in the Cintas Center to their feet as the Musketeers went into halftime with a 35-27 lead.

Xavier started off the second half still riding off the momentum from the first half. Semaj Christon drove baseline and dunked the ball to give the Musketeers a 10-point lead right out of the gates. After Jerrell Wright went 1/2 from the free throw line, Semaj would drive and finish with a layup as Xavier continued to increase the lead.

The closest LaSalle would be able to pull within in the second half would be 6 points. At the 9:51 mark in the second half, Jerrell Wright made a layup to make the score 45-39. From that point on, the Musketeers didn't have many problems closing out the Explorers.

After the Wright layup, Xavier would go on a 9-0 run to extend the lead back to double digits. Semaj started the run by stealing the ball and taking it the length of the court and finishing with the layup. Isaiah Philmore capped off the run by hitting two free throws, something the Musketeers weren't able to do well during the game. As a team, Xavier shot 57.7% from the free throw line, which was worse than what the Musketeers shot from the field.

The Musketeers gained their biggest lead of the game at the 2:34 mark as Jeff Robinson finished the alley-oop with the assist from Dee Davis. Davis finished with a game high 7 assists.

Xavier was led in scoring by Semaj Christon who finished with 18 points and 5 assists, he also had a game high 6 turnovers. As a whole the Musketeers finished with 19 turnovers. Brad Redford finished with 13 points. This is the first time in Brad's career that he has had 3 consecutive games scoring at least 10 points. Jeff Robinson finished with 10.

LaSalle was led in scoring by Tyrone Garland who finished with 16 points. Ramon Galloway finished with 15 points. Steve Zack had 13 points to round out the scoring for the Explorers.

Xavier will be back in action on Wednesday at Charlotte at 7:30 P.M.