A rocky opening 10 minutes against the visiting and unranked Eastern Washington Eagles and an accompanying 11-point deficit gave Xavier fans pause, silencing them.
The No. 17-ranked Musketeers weren't going to start Big East play on the heels of an upset, home loss, were they?
That was the thought hanging in the oddly chilly air at Cintas Center Tuesday night, but Xavier emphatically dismissed any fears of a loss.
The No. 17 Musketeers (10-2) closed out the first half on a 35-8 run and streaked to an 85-56 win over the Eagles (8-4). A sellout crowd of 10,250 attended.