CHICAGO --- A 49 point first half by Saint Xavier University proved too much for the University of St. Francis men's basketball team to overcome as the Saints dropped the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference road matchup by an 88-68 count at the Shannon Center on Saturday afternoon.

Saint Xavier (9-9, 6-4 CCAC) shot 56.7 percent from the field (17-of-30), including 8-of-15 from three-point range (53.3 percent), while St. Francis countered with 28 and 18.2 percent marks both overall (7-of-25) and from three point range (2-of-11) in the opening half enabling the Cougars to take a 23-point lead (49-26) into the break. Saint Xavier maintained the 20 plus point margin for much of the second half before the Saints used a 16-2 swing late to get within 82-68 in the closing two minutes of play.

USF did outscore the hosts 42-39 in the second half, but finished the game shooting just 35.6 percent from the field (21-of-59). Saint Xavier kept its 50 percent accuracy rate intact by connecting on 28-of-55 total field goal attempts (50.9 percent) and 15-of-29 three-pointers (51.7 percent).

Jaeden King and Joshua Evans both hit the 20 point plateau for the Cougars with King using six three pointers in ten attempts to finish with a game high 25 points. Evans was 3-for-3 from long distance as part of his 21 point showing.

The Saints produced three double figure scorers topped by EJ Charles' 18 points, 12 of which came at the foul line. Lewis McGlasson came off the bench to provide 17 markers and four three pointers with Joey Buggemi contributing another ten points.

Lewis Holey just missed recording his second double double of the season with nine points and ten rebounds.

Up Next
The contest was the first of three in five days for the Saints, who take on Calumet College of St. Joseph in a 1 pm start at the Sullivan Center on Monday. The contest is a makeup of the Dec. 21 game that was postponed.

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