By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Xavier University coaches call it a "bubble," and it's the reason Xavier is still unbeaten today after winning the Dell Black Coaches Association Classic.

Xavier's Will Caudle battles for a rebound with Oakland's Shawn Hopes. (Mike Simons photo) | ZOOM |

Xavier (3-0) got all it wanted Monday night from a talented Oakland University team, but the Musketeers pulled out a 76-66 win behind the strength of their rebounding in front of 9,102 at Cintas Center.

The "bubble" is actually a hard plastic dome that coaches affix over the top of the hoop during practice to prevent the ball from going through the rim. The resulting scramble for the ball is what players refer to as "war rebounding," which is what kept Xavier in Monday night's game long enough to pull away for a win.

The Musketeers, who lacked their usual long-range shooting attack, outrebounded Oakland 56-36, including 26 offensive rebounds, resulting in 27 second-chance points and 38 points in the paint. Every player, from 6-foot Lionel Chalmers to 6-9 Anthony Myles, who grabbed 13 boards, contributed significantly to the rebounding effort, which set a Cintas Center record.

"Every time we get 10 rebounds or more, we get to sign the bubble," said Myles, who grabbed just one rebound in each of Xavier's first two games. "I know if I don't get rebounds, coaches are going to take me out."

Xavier's Romain Sato takes it up strong against Oakland's Cortney Scott. (Mike Simons photo) | ZOOM |

After struggling to match Oakland's intensity for much of the first half, Xavier opened with a second-half blitz that included a 13-0 run for a 52-39 lead. Later, junior swingman Keith Jackson threw-down an alley-oop pass from Chalmers that gave Xavier a 65-47 advantage and all but put the game away with 7:38 to play.

Xavier fell behind from the get-go as Oakland came out with a pressure defense that put Xavier into a 10-point deficit after it missed seven of its first eight shots.

"It was a shock," Chalmers said. "We were surprised with the energy they had. We knew they were a running, pressing team, but we didn't know they would come with that type of energy."

Xavier regained its composure from an unlikely duo: freshmen Justin Doellman and Justin Cage, who combined to score seven straight points on a 3-pointer from Cage, and two free throws and a putback by Doellman. Doellman hadn't scored in Xavier's first two games, but finished with 13 Monday night. Cage added 10 points and nine rebounds.

"When Justin (Doellman) knocked down that first free throw, I saw a big sigh of relief," said Xavier coach Thad Matta. "The thing about those two guys is they've practiced so well that I've got confidence in them."

Chalmers, the tournament MVP, finished with 20 points.

BCA roundup

Illinois-Chicago 75, Mercer 64

Cedrick Banks had 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead Illinois-Chicago (2-1).

UC Irvine 63, Ohio 60

Guard Ross Schraeder scored a career-high 17 points, 12 in the second half, for Irvine (2-1).

Coppin State 76, San Diego 62

Reserve Chad Yates scored 18 points and substitute Darryl Jones added 14 for Coppin State (1-2).

Oakland	M	FG	Att	FT	Att	R	A	F	TO	TP
K. Williams	20	1	1	0	0	6	0	2	1	2
Scott	32	8	12	0	1	8	0	4	4	16
Sabourin	7	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	0
Marshall	9	4	13	6	7	6	1	3	2	15
Helms	32	6	25	2	2	2	2	2	5	14
Gilmore	7	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Ishmeal	23	4	8	0	1	1	1	2	0	8
Dukes	7	0	1	0	0	0	1	3	0	0
C. Williams	11	1	1	0	0	3	0	3	0	3
Ritzema	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hopes	21	2	6	4	4	7	0	2	1	8
Totals	200	26	67	12	15	36	7	22	13	66

Team rebounds - 2.

Xavier	M	FG	Att	FT	Att	R	A	F	TO	TP
Caudle	15	3	7	2	2	4	0	1	1	8
Myles	25	3	8	0	2	13	1	1	1	6
Chalmers	34	7	18	4	4	7	3	2	6	20
Sato	36	1	12	9	10	7	1	2	2	11
Finn	31	0	6	1	3	4	1	0	1	1
Cage	21	4	5	1	2	9	0	3	1	10
Doellman	16	4	9	4	5	3	1	3	0	13
Jackson	17	3	8	1	2	3	2	2	1	7
Cole	5	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	0	0
Totals	200	25	73	22	30	56	9	26	13	76

Team rebounds - 4.

Oakland	35	21	66
Xavier	35	41	76

3-pointers - Oakland 2-15 (Marshall 1-3, Helms 0-8, Ishmeal 0-2, Dukes 0-1, Williams 1-1), Xavier 4-17 (Chalmers 2-6, Sato 0-4, Finn 0-3, Cage 1-1, Doellman 1-3). Technicals - None. Officials - Cofer, Eades, Ayers. Attendance - 9,102.