Jan 18, 2003

Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) - Romain Sato scored 24 points, including 18 in the second half, as Xavier defeated Massachusetts 86-73 on Saturday.

The Musketeers (12-4, 3-1 Atlantic 10) staged a 13-0 run early in the second half, eventually building their lead to 18 points, 55-37.

Massachusetts (6-10, 0-4) came within seven at 78-71 with 1:42 to play, but Sato and Dedrick Finn followed with a pair of free throws each to put Xavier in the clear.

Finn and David West both added 21 for Xavier. West also had 11 rebounds to lead the Musketeers to a 32-25 rebounding advantage.

Jackie Rogers went 6-of-7 from the field and 11-of-12 from the line to lead the Minutemen with 23 points. Gabe Lee had 13.

Keenan Christiansen's 3-pointer at the end of the half gave Xavier a 38-31 halftime lead.

Finn, who had three 3-pointers, got 11 points in the first half.

UMass freshman guard Michael Lasme was scheduled to have surgery on a broken bone in his right wrist on Friday, but played on Saturday after delaying the surgery until after the season.