CHICAGO – Junior guard Mekhi Wilson (Covington, Ky./Iowa Central/Covington Catholic) sank seven three-pointers, tied for the second-most in single-game program history, finishing with a game-high and season-best 24 points as Saint Xavier University men's basketball (11-4, 6-1 CCAC) came away with a 79-76 victory over Indiana University South Bend in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play Wednesday evening on Bob Hallberg Court at the Shannon Center in Chicago, Ill. Wilson went 7-for-16 from beyond the arc, and was the first Cougar since former standout Mike Shepski (2018-22) also made seven threes vs. Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.) on February 4, 2019. Wilson added a season-high nine rebounds (four offensive) with an assist and a steal in 28 minutes off the bench.

SXU built a 24-9 advantage midway through the first half after fifth-year senior guard Julian Barr (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Land/Lincoln-Way) hit a trey at the 9:18 mark. The Titans rallied back, using a 24-8 run, and took a 33-32 lead with 1:44 to go before the break. Wilson made a three on the next possession and he would add a pair of foul shots with two seconds left to put Saint Xavier up 39-35 at the break.

Wilson hit another three-pointer to push the lead to 11, 57-46, with 15:23 remaining, but IUSB rallied again with a 14-2 run to up 60-59 after a layup at the 9:35 mark. Wilson gave the Cougars the lead for good with just over seven minutes to go when he nailed back-to-back treys that turned a one-point deficit, 64-63, to a 69-64 advantage that forced an Indiana South Bend timeout.

• Junior forward Davion Lawrence (Oak Lawn, Ill./Moraine Valley/Oak Lawn Community) collected 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting, eight rebounds (five offensive), two assists, a blocked shot and a steal.
• Junior guard Deontrae Warren (Champaign, Ill./Daley/Olive Harvey/Champaign Centennial) recorded 10 points, two assists and a steal in 11 minutes off the bench.
• Barr posted eight points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals.
• Senior forward Kevin Bishop (Cleveland, Ohio/Pikeville/Parkland/Cleveland Benedictine) also had eight points, along with three rebounds, an assist and a block.
• Senior guard Jordan Jackson (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northwood/Wilmington/East Kentwood) registered seven points, six assists, a blocked shot and a rebound.
• Redshirt sophomore guard Mason Kibelkis (Peotone, Ill./Peotone) tallied six points, an assist and a rebound, while senior guard Sando Hill (Vanoss, Okla./Lyon/Seminole State/Vanoss) chipped in three assists, three rebounds, three steals and two points.

Saint Xavier (11-4, 6-1 CCAC) welcomes Calumet College to the Shannon Center on Saturday, January 11. The game is scheduled for a 3:00 pm start.