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kyxu
03-13-2008, 03:41 PM
http://www.xavierhoops.com/forums/images/logos/150/xu.gif#10 Xavier weathers Flyers, advances to conference Semis, 74-65
by Mike Damone

With the business-like manner the #10 Xavier Musketeers (27-5) exited the floor Thursday afternoon at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City after a 74-65 win over the Dayton Flyers (21-10) in the Atlantic 10 Quarterfinals, one would get the sense there are bigger fish to fry for the Musketeers. Though beating a conference rival like Dayton, let alone six-consecutive times, is always something for Xavier fans to celebrate, it’s now more and more becoming just another game for the Musketeers on their way to the ultimate goal.

Contrast that with the Flyers who, thanks to a rather difficult conference season, had put themselves in a precarious position, making each game along the way to the Atlantic 10 Finals a do-or-die situation. For Dayton, Thursday’s game was as big as any, maybe even bigger, coupled with the controversial tone of Xavier senior Stanley Burrell after the two teams’ last match-up on February 24 and in the week leading up to the conference tournament. These intense feelings may have manifested during an alleged pre-game altercation, where several Dayton and Xavier players were talking trash to each other across half-court during warm-ups.

Xavier would get the last laugh in this one, however, led by their three seniors and a stout defensive effort that held the Flyers to just five made field goals in the game’s final 12 minutes. The Musketeers’ three seniors would combine for 41 points, lead by Josh Duncan who had 16 points to go with six boards.

Even better news for Xavier, point guard Drew Lavender looked like he was back to his old self, scoring 12 points and dishing out six assists against just one turnover. Burrell, the subject of much controversy as of late for his comments regarding the distribution of the Atlantic 10 awards, turned in another solid defensive effort, holding Dayton’s conference first-teamer Brian Roberts (13 points) well under his season average of 19. Roberts also failed to score a single point in the game’s final 14 minutes. Burrell would add 13 points of his own.

Arguably the most important key for Xavier in advancing to the Atlantic 10 semifinals for the eighth consecutive conference postseason, was the Musketeers’ control inside. Xavier held a 34-25 rebounding edge, thanks to a game-high nine rebounds from Derrick Brown (11 points) and seven boards for CJ Anderson (15 points). Including Duncan’s six boards, Xavier is exuding key interior balance that could help them go far this March, to go with tremendous offensive balance.

With Dayton leading 17-12 with 12 minutes to go in the first half, Xavier embarked on a 13-0 run over three-and-a-half minutes, in which five different Musketeers scored. Xavier would push their lead to as many as 12 off a Brown free throw, 33-21, but Dayton used an 8-2 run to close out the half, 35-29.

The Flyers would carry momentum into the second half, using a 15-6 run to take a three-point lead, 44-41, with 13:33 to play. Roberts and Marcus Johnson (26 points) keyed the run with nine. Duncan tied the game with his second three, before Andres Sandoval (4 points) gave the Flyers their final lead with a lay-up, 46-44. Xavier then went on a 14-2 run over the next three-and-a-half minutes to put the game effectively out of reach for the Flyers. Four Musketeers contributed to the decisive run, and Dayton would get no closer than six the rest of the way. Xavier pushed its lead back to 11, 66-55, off a Jason Love (4 points) tip-in with 2:31 left, and the Flyers would be forced to foul in the final minute-and-a-half.

The win gives Xavier its sixth-straight over its conference rival, and its 15th out of the past 18 meetings against the Flyers. Xavier now advances to the Atlantic 10 Semifinals for a rematch with the St. Joseph’s Hawks (20-11) at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. The teams split the season series, with Xavier winning at home and the Hawks snapping the Musketeers’ 11-game winning streak on Hawk Hill just last Thursday. St. Joseph’s is coming of a 61-47 win over the Richmond Spiders in the quarterfinals.