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Redford, Love take charge as Xavier cruises

Jan 1, 2009 - 4:23 AM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Freshman Brad Redford and Jason Love scored 15 points apiece to lead 22nd-ranked Xavier to a 78-57 victory over Robert Morris on Wednesday.

B.J. Raymond added 13 points for the Musketeers (10-2), who shot 52 percent (25-of-48) en route to snapping a two-game losing streak.

"It's a great feeling to get back on a winning track," Xavier coach Sean Miller said. "I thought our team bounced back way before the game tonight, when we came back from Christmas."

Xavier began the season 9-0 before getting crushed by then-No. 6 Duke, 82-64, on December 20 and falling to unranked Butler, 74-65, on December 23. The Musketeers face Virginia on Saturday before opening up Atlantic 10 play vs. Saint Louis on January 8.

"I just wanted to come out, and my teammates wanted to come out, and shake off that Butler game and start the New Year right," Love said.

While Love, who shot 7-of-9 from the field and added six rebounds and three blocked shots, took care of things on the inside against Robert Morris, Redford lit it from beyond the arc, hitting 5-of-8 3-point attempts. Xavier shot 44 percent (8-of-18) as a team from 3-point range.

"Brad (Redford) just keeps trucking," Miller said. "He just keeps working. He's a great role model for young kids and players. He's a great weapon for us to have. Make no mistake, he's as good a shooter as there is. I can't say enough about the type of kid he is and how hard he works."

"Early on, I struggled the first three games," Redford said. "If I'm open, coach wants me to shoot. I don't know where I am sometimes (when I shoot)."

Love scored the first six points of the game for the Musketeers, who began the contest with an 11-2 run and cruised into the break up 45-27. Love scored 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the opening 20 minutes.

The Colonials pulled within 50-39 on Jimmy Langhurst's layup with 13:54 left in the game, but Xavier went on a 23-9 run over the next eight minutes to extend the advantage to 73-48.

Jamel McLean, who scored five of his seven points during the second-half spurt, pulled down 11 rebounds as the Musketeers won the battle of the boards, 38-20.

"The great coaching staff that we have, they lit some fires (after the Butler game)," McLean said. "I felt like I had to hold my own tonight. Working hard pays off. I felt that I was more confident than I have been."

Jeremy Chappell scored 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting to lead the Colonials (6-7), who shot 39 percent (23-of-59) in losing their second game in a row.