Xavier 81 - 77 Rhode Island
Final
  for this game

No. 12 Xavier could be without Lavender

Feb 18, 2008 - 5:44 PM No. 12 Xavier (21-4) at Rhode Island (20-5) 7:00 pm EST

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (Ticker) - No. 12 Xavier could be without senior guard Drew Lavender for Monday's Atlantic 10 Conference showdown at Rhode Island.

Lavender, the Muskeeteers' leading scorer at 11.7 points per game, turned an ankle in the first half of Wednesday's 62-60 victory at Charlotte.

Lavender stayed in the contest but failed to score, and coach Sean Miller is not sure if he'll be able to play against the Rams.

"We're lucky we have an extra 48 hours," Miller told the Cincinnati Enquirer on Sunday. "If we had played today, it would have been hard on him. Hopefully, when we get to Monday, he'll feel much better than he feels now."

Xavier (21-4, 9-1 A-10), which has a two-game lead over Saint Joseph's in the conference, has won seven straight games and 13 of its last 14. The Musketeers' last three wins have come by a combined eight points.

Xavier also has won 12 straight against Rhode Island but the Rams are 11-0 at home this season and still have hopes of winning the Atlantic 10 regular season title.

Rhode Island (20-5, 6-4) is in a three-way for third, two games behind Xavier and one game in back of Saint Joseph's.

The Rams have dropped two of their last three games, including a 92-89 overtime loss at Temple on Wednesday. Senior forward Will Daniels is averaging 18.4 points for Rhode Island.






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