By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island wanted to use Sunday's game against Xavier to establish itself as one of the Atlantic 10's elite teams.

The Rams were 12-3 entering the game, but hadn't defeated the two-time defending Atlantic 10 West Division champions in eight games. Make that nine after Sunday.

Xavier (9-4, 1-0 A-10) withstood Rhode Island's physical play and showed some toughness of its own as its A-10 season got off to a winning start. The Musketeers overcame a 10-point first-half deficit and shot 56.7 percent in the second half to post an 81-67 victory in front of 6,143 at the Ryan Center.

It was Xavier's fourth consecutive victory and second road win, giving a boost to a team which has struggled on the road, and which hasn't received as much publicity lately as Rhode Island and No. 9 Saint Joseph's.

"Our main concern is defending our title," said senior guard Lionel Chalmers, who scored 21 points. "We're not backing down from anybody. All these teams are supposed to be big-time teams, but I don't think people remember that we have two titles."

But Xavier, which was picked to finish first in the A-10 West, will have to earn another title as a marked team, if Sunday's game was any indication.

Rhode Island (12-4, 1-1) went after Xavier from the start using physical play on the perimeter, converting Muskie turnovers into easy points.

Xavier coach Thad Matta moved Chalmers to point guard and removed Dedrick Finn, who lost the ball to Rhode Island's Dawan Robinson twice in a row. Xavier then outscored Rhode Island 28-10 the rest of the half and led 39-31 at halftime.

"The luxury of being able to move Lionel to the point and getting Dedrick off the ball there was good," Matta said. "Those things are going to happen every now and then."

In the second half, Xavier took full control of the game with good outside shooting, and the steady inside play of Anthony Myles and Justin Doellman, who each grabbed nine rebounds.

"The big key I had with (Doellman) today was could he rebound in this game," Matta said. "To see him get nine is huge for our team."

Senior Romain Sato made both of his 3-pointers in the second half and finished with a team-high 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting.

Myles finished with 15 points, and Doellman scored 12 with three 3-pointers. Myles didn't get many easy baskets against Rhode Island's interior defense.

"They were just fouling whenever I made a move," Myles said. "The guys I was playing against was just grabbing me and getting me frustrated."

But it was Xavier that ultimately ended up frustrating Rhode Island with some physical play of its own.

"That's what it's about," Chalmers said. "It's A-10. It's conference time. Everybody wants to win. It's about who's got the toughest heart."

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E-mail ddow@enquirer.com

Xavier	M	FG	Att	FT	Att	R	A	F	TO	TP
Doellman	33	4	6	1	3	9	3	4	3	12
Myles	34	7	16	1	1	9	0	4	1	15
Chalmers	40	8	13	3	5	5	4	2	1	21
Sato	40	7	14	6	6	5	3	1	0	22
Finn	20	1	4	3	4	0	2	3	3	5
Cage	13	0	1	2	2	2	1	4	0	2
Jackson	14	0	0	2	4	1	1	1	1	2
Cole	7	1	1	0	1	1	0	1	1	2
Totals	200	28	55	18	26	36	14	20	10	81

Team rebounds - 4.

Rhode Island	M	FG	Att	FT	Att	R	A	F	TO	TP
Moore	17	1	3	1	2	2	0	3	0	3
Momplaisir	18	1	2	2	2	3	3	3	0	4
Robinson	35	8	19	5	6	6	3	4	2	23
Woodward	29	4	7	4	4	5	1	3	3	13
Hellenga	33	3	14	0	0	3	1	2	1	7
Mack	7	1	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	2
Sullivan	3	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	0
Brooks	6	0	0	0	2	1	0	3	1	0
Hazelton	13	3	5	0	0	1	0	0	0	6
Wise	17	2	3	1	1	4	1	0	1	5
Clark	20	2	2	0	0	4	0	4	0	4
Holm	2	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Totals	200	25	58	13	18	34	9	23	10	67

Team rebounds - 3.

Xavier	39	42	-81
Rhode Island	31	36	-67

3-pointers - XU 7-15 (Doellman 3-3, Chalmers 2-5, Sato 2-6, Finn 0-1), RI 4-17 (Robinson 2-7, Woodward 1-2, Hellenga 1-6, Sullivan 0-1, Hazelton 0-1). Technicals - None. Officials - Cahill, Haney, Kersey. Attendance - 6,143.