Xavier University Athletics
Atlantic 10 CHAMPS!
03.13.04 | Men's Basketball
Xavier became the first team in A-10 Tournament history and just the ninth team in NCAA history to claim a conference tournament title by winning four games.
?I don?t think I?ve been more proud of this group of young men,? Xavier coach Thad Matta said. ?The road that this team has had to take to get to this night has been an incredible ride. I credit our guys for never giving up.?
The Musketeers erased a seven-point deficit in the second half to win the title and move to 23-10 on the year. The win was Xavier?s 13th in the last 14 games.
After eight ties and seven lead changes, the teams went to halftime knotted at 27-27.
The Flyers then began the second half on a 7-0 run over the first 3:09 to take a 36-27 advantage.
XU would work its way back into the game on the free throw line and tie the score at 41-all with 10:18 left on a pair of free throws by Brandon Cole.
The Flyers retook the lead and led 47-43 with 7:20 remaining, but Xavier held UD to just two points the rest of the way.
An Anthony Myles jumper and a pair of free throws from Chalmers tied the game at 47 with just over five minutes left.
Dedrick Finn hit a jumper at the 3:40 mark that put Xavier up for good.
The Musketeers, who went 17-for-21 at the free throw line for the game, hit seven of eight at the line down the stretch to secure the win.
UD shot just 27 percent in the second half, and did not hit a field goal in the final 8:31 of the game.
Chalmers earned MVP honors after averaging 17.5 points in four tournament games. He had seven points on Saturday.
Sato led the Musketeers in the Championship game with 14 points and nine rebounds while Myles added 13 points and four rebounds.
Xavier set an A-10 Championship Game record and tied the school record by turning the ball over just three times.
Ramod Marshall led Dayton with 17 points. UD?s Keith Waleskowski and Sean Finn were named to the All-Tournament Team.
The Musketeers will advance to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season with an automatic berth as the Atlantic 10 Conference Champion. Xavier will learn its first round opponent on Sunday evening during the NCAA Selection Show, which will be televised nationally on CBS at 6 p.m.
For a photo look at the championship from the Associated Press, click here.
