Zags fend off Xavier

CINCINNATI (AP) - Gonzaga's sixth straight win won't have any qualifiers attached.

Sam Dower scored a season-high 20 points and had 10 rebounds Saturday night, steadying Gonzaga to a 72-65 victory over a Xavier team that was finally back to full strength.

The Bulldogs won't have to look at this one and say there was a reason other than their solid play. Gonzaga (11-2) became the first team to beat Xavier (9-4) when it had a full lineup.

"That was a heck of a win for us," coach Mark Few said. "That team has not lost when they are complete. It wasn't easy."

Gonzaga prevailed by dominating in rebounds and 3-point shooting. The Bulldogs went 8 of 18 from behind the arc - Xavier managed only 3 of 18 - and won the rebounding battle 44-31.

Dower has come off the bench and scored in double figures in five of the last six games, going 30 of 46 from the field overall. He had the touch on Saturday night.

"In the warm-ups my shots were falling," said Dower, who was 7 of 11 from the field. "Itcarried over into the game. I was feeling it. We just took what they gave us. I guess they scouted me and didn't think I could hit the mid-range jumper, but I was feeling it tonight."

The Bulldogs took advantage, running plays to get him open shots.

"When he gets going like that we call his number," Few said. "Our guys did a great job of finding him. He's done that before."

Xavier has lost four of five, sapped and knocked out of rhythm by four suspensions from its brawl with Cincinnati. The Musketeers had everybody back on Saturday, but couldn't put together a run during a close game that featured four ties and eight lead changes, with neither team ahead by more than seven until the closing seconds.

The rebounding disparity was especially troubling for Xavier, which made it a point of emphasis.

"I guess they just wanted it more than us," said center Kenny Frease, who had 12 points and six rebounds. "There's not any other explanation. It's not like they're bigger or stronger than we are.

"We've got to figure out whatever it was we had before all that stuff (suspensions) went down. Whatever it was we had, we've got to get it back."

Mark Lyons and Tu Holloway led Xavier with 15 points each.

Xavier wore its special gray uniforms for its back-together game. The Musketeers had missed starters for each of the last four games, and it cost them.

Zags next-

GONZAGA (11-2)

Harris 5-10 0-0 12, Sacre 2-7 1-2 5, Pangos 3-10 6-8 13, Bell 3-6 1-2 7, Hart 1-1 0-0 3, Carter 0-3 0-0 0, Landry Edi 2-6 0-0 4, Stockton 2-4 0-0 6, Spangler 1-1 0-0 2, Dower 7-11 4-5 20. Totals 26-59 12-17 72.

XAVIER (9-4)

Wells 2-7 3-4 8, Walker 2-3 2-4 6, Frease 6-11 0-0 12, Lyons 5-16 4-6 15, Holloway 7-13 1-3 15, Davis 1-3 0-0 3, Taylor 2-2 2-2 6, Redford 0-2 0-0 0, Martin 0-2 0-0 0, Robinson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-59 12-19 65.

Halftime_Gonzaga 35-31. 3-Point Goals_Gonzaga 8-19 (Harris 2-3, Stockton 2-3, Dower 2-3, Hart 1-1, Pangos 1-7, Landry Edi 0-1, Bell 0-1), Xavier 3-18 (Davis 1-2, Wells 1-3, Lyons 1-7, Martin 0-2, Holloway 0-2, Redford 0-2). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Gonzaga 44 (Dower 10), Xavier 31 (Frease 6). Assists_Gonzaga 15 (Pangos 7), Xavier 9 (Frease, Holloway, Martin 2). Total Fouls_Gonzaga 15, Xavier 20. A_10,250.