CHICAGO – Seven players scored in double-figures as the Saint Xavier University men's basketball team (1-0, 0-0 CCAC) started the 2024-25 season with a 109-96 victory over East-West University Wednesday evening on Bob Hallberg Court at the Shannon Center in Chicago, Ill. Junior guard Mekhi Wilson (Covington, Ky./Iowa Central/Covington Catholic), making his SXU debut, led the team with 19 points on 6-for-10 shooting (60.0 percent) and he was 5-for-9 (55.6 percent) from three-point range. Jackson also added four rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes off the bench. The Cougars shot at a 50.0 percent clip (37-74) as a team from the field and they made 16 of their 41 three-point attempts (39.0 percent). It was the first time since January 21, 2023 that Saint Xavier scored 100 or more points at home, when the defeated Trinity International University (Ill.), 108-72.

• Fifth-year senior guard Julian Barr (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Land/Lincoln-Way East) was efficient from the floor as he made five of his seven shots, finishing with 16 points. He added four rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal.
• Senior guard Sando Hill (Vanoss, Okla./Lyon/Seminole State/Vanoss) collected 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting (85.7 percent) with four rebounds, two assists and a steal in 15 minutes off the bench.
• Senior forward Andre Brandon (Coralville, Iowa/Sauk Valley/Liberty) just missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds, along with a blocked shot.
• Senior guard Jordan Jackson (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northwood/Wilmington/East Kentwood), appearing in his first game as a Cougar, tallied 12 points, two assists, two rebounds and two steals.
• Senior forward Kevin Bishop (Cleveland, Ohio/Pikeville/Parkland/Cleveland Benedictine) posted 11 points, four rebounds, three steals and an assist in 20 minutes of action.
• Junior forward Davion Lawrence (Oak Lawn, Ill./Moraine Valley/Oak Lawn Community) also finished with 11 points in his SXU debut, with five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Junior guard Ashton Atwater (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Valley/Ostego) paced the offense with a team-high seven assists, while adding seven points, four steals and three rebounds.
• Junior guard DJ Shelton (Chicago, Ill./Calumet St. Joseph/UTTC/Thornridge), making his debut for Saint Xavier, added three assists, two points, two rebounds and two steals in 15 minutes off the bench.
• Junior guard Deontre Warren (Champaign, Ill./Daley/Olive Harvey/Champaign Centennial) chipped in two points and a rebound in his first game for the Cougars.

Saint Xavier (1-0, 0-0 CCAC) returns to action on Saturday, November 9 when they host NCAA Division III Edgewood College (Wis.) at the Shannon Center. The game is scheduled for a 3:00 pm tipoff.