Xavier routs Belmont for 5th win in row

Stanley Burrell scored a season-high 18 points Saturday night, and No. 23 Xavier turned up the defensive pressure and beat Belmont 90-49 for its fifth straight victory.

The Musketeers (6-1) got another solid game from Burrell, a senior guard who has transformed himself from a shooter into an all-around player. He led a balanced offense that features six players averaging double figures, and helped shut down senior guard Justin Hare, Belmont's most dangerous player.

Belmont (5-3) returned to the city where it opened the season with a stunning 78-65 victory over Cincinnati on the Bearcats' home court. Hare led the way in that one with a game-high 23 points.

That opening victory was one of three early upsets by Atlantic Sun Conference teams, including Gardner-Webb winning at Kentucky and Mercer winning at Southern California. The Bruins added another signature road win on Nov. 19, beating Alabama 85-83 on Hare's pullup jumper with 2.2 seconds left.

It didn't take Hare and the Bruins long to realize things were going to be a whole lot tougher on the other side of town.