CHICAGO – Junior forward Davion Lawrence (Oak Lawn, Ill./Moraine Valley/Oak Lawn Community) scored a season-high 16 points in 21 minutes off the bench; however, the Saint Xavier University men's basketball team (3-1, 0-0 CCAC) suffered its first setback of the 2024-25 campaign, falling to No. 21 Grace College (Ind.) by a 102-80 decision Friday evening on Bob Hallberg Court at the Shannon Center in Chicago, Ill. Lawrence added three rebounds and an assist as he scored all 16 of his points in the second half. Trailing 44-36 at halftime, SXU fell behind by 17 at the 14:05 mark of the second period, 61-44, after a Lancers dunk.

Over the next 6:45 of game time, Saint Xavier cut the deficit to just two points, 78-76, after a layup by senior guard Jordan Jackson (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northwood/Wilmington/East Kentwood). Lawrence was instrumental in the 32-17 run, scoring 12 of his 16 points. Grace responded with a 24-4 run to close out the contest, making 12 of their 13 field goal attempts. Overall, GC outshot the Cougars 65.5 percent (38-for-58) to 42.3 percent (33-for-78).

• Junior guard Ashton Atwater (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Valley/Ostego) tied his season-high in points with 12 of 4-for-7 shooting. He also had a team-best five assists, a team-high three steals and a rebound.
• Senior forward Kevin Bishop (Cleveland, Ohio/Pikeville/Parkland/Cleveland Benedictine) was the third SXU player to finish in double-figures, scoring 12 points. He collected five rebounds, two blocked shots and a pair of steals.
• Redshirt sophomore guard Mason Kibelkis (Peotone, Ill./Peotone) tallied nine points by going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, along with two rebounds, a block and a steal in 14 minutes of action off the bench.
• Senior forward Andre Brandon (Coralville, Iowa/Sauk Valley/Liberty) scored nine points as well. He added five rebounds, an assist and a steal before fouling out.
• Fifth-year senior guard Julian Barr (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Land/Lincoln-Way East) recorded eight points, two assists and a rebound in 30 minutes on the court.
• Jackson chipped in six points, an assist, a block, a rebound and a steal.
• Junior guard Mekhi Wilson (Covington, Ky./Iowa Central/Covington Catholic) added four points, four rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot.

Saint Xavier (3-1, 0-0 CCAC) begins conference play when they take on Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) at the Shannon Center on Wednesday, November 20. The Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) contest is slated for a 7:00 pm start.