By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

It has been some time since Dayton and Xavier were each this good. Thirteen years to be exact.

As the teams prepare for today's 2 p.m. tipoff at Cintas Center, the memory of the 1989-90 season is distant but significant. That was the last time the Flyers and Musketeers each made the NCAA Tournament in the same season.

The teams split two regular-season games that season, but Dayton earned an automatic NCAA berth by defeating Xavier in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference Tournament championship game at University of Dayton Arena. The Musketeers, who won the MCC regular-season title, were granted an at-large berth.

Since then, the rivals have played a handful of big games, but none as meaningful as today's.

The teams haven't met as legitimate NCAA contenders since 1989-90.

Dayton (16-3, 8-0 A-10) is riding a nine-game winning streak and is 21st in the Ratings Percentage Index. The Flyers haven't won that many games consecutively since putting together 11 straight wins in 1989-90.

Xavier (16-4, 7-1) has won seven in a row and is ranked No. 20 by the Associated Press. Each team is all but assured a spot in the NCAA Tournament field, but today's game and the rematch Feb. 22 in Dayton will help determine their seeding, as well as shape the A-10 West race for the final month.

"It makes it more exciting," Musketeers guard Lionel Chalmers said. "It should be a good one. They're on a roll. So are we. Somebody has to lose. Confidence is riding high for both teams, and there's a lot at stake with first place in the conference on the line."

Seven A-10 games remain for each team after today's game, so it hardly will decide the West champion. But it does serve as an important momentum boost for whoever wins.

Last season, after Xavier won in Dayton for the first time in nine years, the Musketeers won their next eight conference games to claim the regular-season title.

"Now it's about winning the game and winning the conference," said Xavier freshman point guard Dedrick Finn, who will play in his first XU-UD game. "Whoever wins (today) will have the best chance of winning the conference."

Dayton is a veteran team that has put itself in this position by winning close road games. Today marks the Flyers' third straight road game, preceded by a 76-75 win at Duquesne and a 75-70 victory at LaSalle.

Having four returning starters helps Dayton make it through tight contests home or away. The Flyers are 8-0 in games decided by four points or fewer.

"The big thing is to not do anything differently than you would at home," said Dayton coach Oliver Purnell, whose team hasn't won at Xavier since 1981. "You have to maintain your poise."

Senior Brooks Hall leads the Flyers with a 14-point scoring average, followed by juniors Keith Waleskowski (12.4) and Ramod Marshall (11.8). Four other players average between 8.7 and 7.1 points. Reserve D.J. Stelly led the Flyers with 18 points Wednesday at Duquesne.

"Offensive balance is one of our characteristics," Purnell said. "We don't rely on one person to be successful."

The most intense battle might come on the boards. Xavier leads the A-10 in rebounding with 39.8 a game, but Dayton is third, grabbing 36.7. Each team outrebounds opponents by 6.8 a game.

E-mail ddow@enquirer.com

Xavier vs. Dayton

Tipoff: 2 p.m. today, Cintas Center (10,250).

Records: XU 16-4 (7-1 Atlantic 10), Dayton 16-3 (8-0).

Radio: WLW-AM (700).

TV: Fox Sports Ohio.

Series: Dayton leads 77-55.

Line: XU by 10.

DAYTON

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Brooks Hall	Sr.	6-6	14.0
Ramod Marshall	Jr.	6-2	11.8
K.Waleskowski	Jr.	6-9	12.4
Sean Finn	Jr.	6-11	8.7
Mark Jones	So.	6-1	7.1

Coach: Oliver Purnell (147-113, ninth season; 248-188 overall).

XAVIER

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Keith Jackson	So.	6-5	6.3
Romain Sato	Jr.	6-5	16.7
Dedrick Finn	Fr.	6-1	7.8
David West	Sr.	6-9	18.8
Anthony Myles	Jr.	6-9	10.2

Coach: Thad Matta (42-10, second season; 66-18 overall).