Xavier men's basketball is 20 minutes from opening conference play with a crucial victory.
The No. 17 Musketeers (10-2) took a 37-25 lead into the half against the unranked Providence College Friars (10-3) Wednesday at Cintas Center.
Xavier used stifling defense – they held Providence scoreless for nearly seven minutes in the middle of the half – to hold the Friars to 37 percent shooting from the field and about 17 percent from 3-point range.
The Friars' leading scorer and rebounder, Rodney Bullock, was held scoreless and to just three boards.
Bullock typically averages close to 20 points per game.