Joliet, Ill. – The Saint Xavier University men's basketball team (6-1, 2-0 CCAC) extended its winning streak to three games after a 93-77 triumph over Hastings College (Neb.) on day one of the University of St. Francis (Ill.) Thanksgiving Classic Saturday evening at the Sullivan Center in Joliet, Ill. Senior forward Kevin Bishop (Cleveland, Ohio/Pikeville/Parkland/Cleveland Benedictine) led the Cougars with 16 points and eight rebounds (four offensive) with an assist in just 21 minutes. SXU finished 36-for-71 from the field (50.7 percent), the fourth time that they have shot 50.0 percent or better in a game this season. Saint Xavier also came away with 13 steals and is now 6-0 this year when the record 10 or more steals in a contest. They also blocked a season-high 10 shots, tied for the sixth-most in single-game program history and the most since a 13-block performance at Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) on December 7, 2021.

The Cougars were down early, 12-6 a little over five minutes into the game. After a media timeout senior guard Jordan Jackson (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northwood/Wilmington/East Kentwood) sparked an 8-0 run with a layup at the 13:57 mark, to help put SXU up 14-12. From there, SXU closed out the half by outscoring the Broncos 30-21 and they held a 44-33 advantage at halftime. Bishop scored 11 of his 16 points in the first half to pace Saint Xavier. Hastings cut the deficit to 46-40 with 16:41 left in regulation after a three-pointer, however the Cougars responded with a 16-0 run over the next four minutes, capped by an 'old-fashioned' three-point play by Bishop and SXU would maintain its double-digit lead the rest of the way to close out the win.

• Junior guard Deontre Warren (Champaign, Ill./Daley/Olive Harvey/Champaign Centennial) was efficient in 16 minutes off the bench, scoring a season-high 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting and he was 3-for-6 from beyond the arc. Warren added three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.
• Jackson totaled 11 points, along with five rebounds, an assist and a steal.
• Junior guard Mekhi Wilson (Covington, Ky./Iowa Central/Covington Catholic) collected nine points, two rebounds, an assist, a blocked shot and a steal in just 15 minutes.
• Senior forward Andre Brandon (Coralville, Iowa/Sauk Valley/Liberty) scored eight points while going 3-for-4 from the floor. He added a team-best three blocks, three rebounds, a pair of assists and a steal.
• Junior guard Ashton Atwater (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Valley/Ostego) also tallied eight points with two rebounds and a steal.
• Senior guard Sando Hill (Vanoss, Okla./Lyon/Seminole State/Vanoss) pulled down a season-high seven rebounds with five points, three assists, a blocked shot and a steal.
• Junior forward Davion Lawrence (Oak Lawn, Ill./Moraine Valley/Oak Lawn Community) posted six rebounds, five points and a block, while redshirt sophomore guard Mason Kibelkis (Peotone, Ill./Peotone) sank both of his three-pointers for six points.
• Fifth-year senior guard Julian Barr (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Land/Lincoln-Way East) filled the box score with four points, three rebounds, three steals, two assists and a blocked shot.
• Junior guard DJ Shelton (Chicago, Ill./Calumet St. Joseph/UTTC/Thornridge) also scored four points while adding a season-high three steals, two assists and a rebound.

Saint Xavier (6-1, 2-0 CCAC) wraps up play in the USF Thanksgiving Classic when they play Lourdes University (Ohio) on Sunday, December 1. The game is set for a 3:00 pm tipoff in Joliet, Ill.