GAME NOTES: The 23rd-ranked Xavier Musketeers and the Massachusetts Minutemen are set to collide in an Atlantic 10 Conference showdown. This game features the two teams that shared the 2007 A-10 regular season title with identical 13-3 records. This season, Xavier is 4-1 in league play and 16-4 overall, and the team has won its last two games and eight of the last nine overall. Thursday's matchup with Dayton was expected to be a highly competitive battle, but the Musketeers dominated the tilt and walked away with a 69-43 victory. As for UMass, it carried a two-game win streak into Wednesday's clash with Saint Joseph's, but the result of that clash was an 81-77 setback. The Minutemen are 13-5 overall, including 7-1 at home and 2-2 in conference action. Xavier holds a 10-8 edge in the all-time series with UMass, including two straight wins over the Minutemen.

The fact that Xavier was able to limit Dayton to 30.4 percent shooting from the floor on Thursday was extremely impressive. The Musketeers did a tremendous job of defending the long-range shot, as the Flyers finished 2-of-18 from three- point land. Xavier also earned a commanding 41-24 rebounding advantage in the clash and shot a respectable 47.2 percent from the field. Stanley Burrell led a balanced attack with 13 points. B.J. Raymond had 12 points off the bench, and Josh Duncan contributed 11 points. Raymond is scoring 12.0 ppg this season, while Drew Lavender adds 11.9 ppg and 5.0 apg. There are six players in all averaging double figures in scoring for Xavier, an accomplishment rarely achieved at the collegiate level. The Musketeers are posting 78.4 ppg while limiting opponents to 62.0 ppg.

UMass is led by the outstanding duo of Ricky Harris and Gary Forbes. Harris is scoring 20.7 ppg to lead the team, and Forbes is close behind with his 20.5 ppg. While those players get most of the attention from the media and from opposing defenders, there are some other solid contributors on the roster. Chris Lowe checks in with 12.2 ppg and 5.3 apg, and Etienne Brower adds 10.7 ppg and 6.6 rpg. The Minutemen are posting 84.9 ppg while allowing 78.5 ppg to the opposition. Harris poured in 30 points against Saint Joseph's on 12-of-21 shooting from the floor, including 5-of-7 from three-point range. Forbes had 24 points and nine rebounds, while Dante Milligan posted 12 points and 10 rebounds. Still, UMass connected on only 39.5 percent of its field goal attempts in the clash and finished with nine assists against 18 turnovers.

Expect a mild upset tonight, as UMass may be able to sneak by Xavier at home. The combo of Forbes and Harris gives the Minutemen a chance every time they step on the floor.