By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

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Online extra: Photo gallery of Xavier's win

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• College Basketball scores • Special Championship Week section

DAYTON - For more than a month, Xavier University has been winning crucial games - 10 out of 11- in an attempt to secure an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.

Now, four days before the Tournament pairings are announced on Selection Sunday, the Musketeers (20-10) are still one gigantic victory from possibly solidifying those NCAA hopes.

Xavier plays No. 1-ranked Saint Joseph's (27-0) at noon today in the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament at UD Arena. The Musketeers routed St. Bonaventure 90-64 in the first round Wednesday behind a 20-point, seven-rebound effort from senior Anthony Myles. With a win today, Xavier can complete a significant turnaround from a 10-9 start to the season.

"We're playing the best team in college basketball," Xavier coach Thad Matta said. "As a competitor, as a player, you look forward to those opportunities. They have something that no one else has, and they want to keep it."

That would be Saint Joseph's unblemished record, creating loads of national attention on the small program this season. The record will likely result in a No. 1 seed in next week's NCAA Tournament. In an indication of its popularity, Saint Joseph's practiced Wednesday in a small high school gym nearby that was crowded with close to 200 people.

The Hawks' sudden fame should motivate Xavier, which nearly beat Saint Joseph's Jan. 17 before faltering in the final minutes and eventually losing by eight.

"If you're not aware of the opportunity there, something's wrong," said Xavier senior Lionel Chalmers, who scored 14 points against St. Bonaventure Wednesday. "They made history and are continuing to make history, so for us to have a shot at them is what every other team would like to have."

Xavier players and coaches have tried to avoid labeling today's game a must-win. At No. 52 in the Ratings Percentage Index according to CollegePRI.com, however, Xavier could certainly use the RPI boost that would come with beating Saint Joseph's.

"I think we've done enough to get in," Chalmers said. "But that's my personal opinion. I can't control what (the selection committee members) do. But that has nothing to do with what we're going to do out there. We're going to come out and try to win the game."

Xavier is not playing a team that is just trying to stay undefeated going into the NCAAs, although Saint Joseph's could become the first team to do that since UNLV in 1991. Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Jameer Nelson and his senior classmate Tyrone Barley have never even appeared in an A-10 championship.

"For me and Tyrone, we've accomplished so many team goals together," Nelson said. "The Atlantic 10 Championship is definitely one thing that we want to add to our resume."

Having Myles playing his best basketball in the last three games (16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds) could be a significant factor for Xavier. Just outplaying SJU inside won't be enough, however, Matta said.

"They come at you so many different ways," Matta said. "We have to make some major decisions this afternoon and tonight and into tomorrow on what we're going to do exactly."

Xavier's starters will be well-rested against Saint Joseph's, which has had nine days off to prepare for today's game. None of Xavier's starters played the final six minutes of Wednesday's game.

E-mail ddow@enquirer.com

St. Bonaventure	M	FG	Att	FT	Att	R	A	F	TO	TP
Lottin	28	6	16	5	6	3	1	1	3	20
Camara	15	1	3	0	0	1	0	2	1	2
Ah. Smith	38	1	7	2	2	8	0	1	0	4
Carter	23	2	6	0	0	4	2	2	3	4
Green	39	3	12	1	2	3	8	2	3	10
An. Smith	8	2	6	0	0	1	0	0	0	6
Dumbliauskas	16	3	6	0	0	5	0	2	0	6
Young	27	4	8	0	0	1	0	0	1	10
Lewis	6	1	1	0	0	2	1	1	1	2
Totals	200	23	65	8	10	29	12	11	12	64

Team rebounds - 1.

Xavier	M	FG	Att	FT	Att	R	A	F	TO	TP
Cage	25	4	8	2	2	4	3	1	3	10
Doellman	27	3	7	1	1	6	4	4	1	9
Myles	19	9	11	2	2	7	1	0	1	20
Chalmers	25	5	9	1	1	4	5	0	2	14
Sato	27	5	11	0	0	7	3	0	2	10
Finn	22	2	3	0	0	5	3	1	2	6
Jackson	16	2	5	0	0	4	2	1	1	4
Christiansen	8	1	4	0	0	1	1	1	1	3
Cole	18	5	6	2	4	7	1	2	1	12
Caudle	10	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	2
Compton	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	200	37	68	8	10	47	23	10	15	90

Team rebounds - 2.

St. Bonaventure	27	37	-64
Xavier	53	37	-90

3-pointers - St. Bonaventure 10-34 (Lottin 3-10, Ah. Smith 0-2, Green 3-11, An. Smith 2-6, Young 2-5), Xavier 8-18 (Cage 0-1, Doellman 2-3, Chalmers 3-7, Sato 0-1, Finn 2-3, Christiansen 1-3). Technicals - None. Officials - Duke Edsall, Bryan Kersey, Sean Hull.