March 8, 2000

Box Score

By ROB MAADDI
Associated Press Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - David West scored a career-high 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Xavier to a 75-60 victory over Rhode Island in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament on Wednesday night.

Xavier (20-10) never trailed in the game and led by as many as 16 points. The Musketeers play St. Bonaventure in the second round on Thursday.

West had 14 points in the first half, including six straight points during one stretch. He finished 10-of-16, including 7-of-12 in the first half.

Maurice McAfee and Darnell Williams each added 15 points for Xavier. Zach Marbury led Rhode Island with 27 points, including 21 in the second half. Tavorris Bell had 19.

Rhode Island (5-25) stayed close early and trailed by only 19-15 with 6:01 left in the first half. But an 11-0 run gave the Musketeers a 30-15 lead.

The Rams closed to 51-42 on a jumper by Marbury with 9:55 remaining. But McAfee hit his third 3-pointer in a five-minute span to increase the lead to 54-42.

McAfee finished 5-of-14, including 4-of-10 from 3-point range.

Xavier shot just 14-for-39 (36 percent) in the first half, but took nearly twice as many shots as Rhode Island. The Rams were 10-for-20, but only 1-for-7 from the free throw line.

Rhode Island committed 14 turnovers in the first half and 26 in the game.