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Xavier has sights set on A-10 title

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - The 25th-ranked Xavier Musketeers will try to grab at least a share of the Atlantic 10 regular-season title today, as they entertain the St. Bonaventure Bonnies at the Cintas Center.

The Musketeers enter their finale locked in a first place tie with Temple at 13-2, so a win today would guarantee the program at least a share of its fourth straight regular-season championship. Xavier though, did lose to Temple during the season and could only end up as the top seed in the upcoming league tourney if the Owls were to fall against George Washington.

Still, the Musketeers are peaking at the right time, as they have won six straight and 10 of their last 11 outings. After outlasting Richmond in double- overtime of a pivotal affair, Xavier cruised past Fordham, 82-56, on Wednesday. The team now returns back home, where it owns one of the longest winning streaks in the nation at 23 games. The Musketeers have also won 31 home games in a row against A-10 foes and that is the second-longest run in league history.

Hoping to play the role of spoiler is SBU, which brings a season-high four- game winning streak into the bout. The Bonnies most recently defeated Duquesne, 92-80, on Wednesday to improve to 14-14 overall and 7-8 within the conference.

As for the all-time series, Xavier owns a 21-15 record against SBU and the Musketeers have taken each of the last eight encounters.

The Bonnies shot a sizzling 56.0 percent from the floor, including a 9-of-18 showing from long range, as they outlasted Duquesne in a shootout on Wednesday. SBU also did a nice job a the foul line, converting on 27-of-37 chances. Andrew Nicholson and Chris Matthews each tallied 21 points in the win, with Nicholson grabbing seven caroms and Matthews shooting 6-of-10 from downtown. On the season, Nicholson paces SBC in scoring (16.0 ppg) as well as rebounding (7.3 rpg), and Matthews tacks on 12.1 ppg behind 38.0 percent shooting from three-point land. Sandwiched between those two is Jonathan Hall, who turns in 13.4 ppg and 5.7 rpg.

The Musketeers dominated the boards, 56-41, and held Fordham to a dismal 34.3 percent shooting performance from the field in a rout on Wednesday. Jamel McLean led the assault with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Terrell Holloway pitched in with 14 points. Jordan Crawford got into the mix as well, turning in an all-around effort of 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists. One of the most marked players in the A-10, Crawford averages a team and league-best 19.6 ppg, to go with 4.7 rpg and 3.0 apg for the season. Jason Love adds 11.8 ppg and a team-high 8.6 rpg to the mix, while Holloway delivers 11.4 ppg and a team-best 3.8 apg.


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