Joliet, Ill. – Senior guard Mekhi Wilson (Covington, Ky./Iowa Central/Covington Catholic) scored a season-high 22 points on 8-for-13 shooting from the field, however his three-point attempt in the closing seconds for the lead missed as Saint Xavier University men's basketball (6-8, 4-3 CCAC) suffered a 59-58 loss to University of St. Francis (Ill.) in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play Wednesday evening at the Sullivan Center in Joliet, Ill. Wilson added a pair of rebounds in 28 minutes while making his sixth start of the season. The Cougar defense held the Fighting Saints to 38.8 percent (19-for-49) overall shooting, and just 15.8 percent (3-for-19) from beyond the arc, but USF made 18 foul shots to SXU's 10, going 62.1 percent (18-for-29) to Saint Xavier's 55.6 percent (10-for-18).

Wilson made all seven of his shot attempts in the first half, scoring 18 points with a two three-pointers. Despite shooting 56.5 percent (13-for-23) in the first half as a team, the Cougars trailed 37-33 at halftime. A fast-break layup by St. Francis gave them a 46-33 lead at the 17:30 mark. Saint Xavier chipped away at the deficit over the next 12 minutes, and they would go up 56-55 after a basket by senior forward Davion Lawrence (Oak Lawn, Ill./Moraine Valley/Oak Lawn Community) with 5:41 left in regulation. The Fighting Saint tied the game on their next possession after splitting a pair of free-throws. Senior guard Ike Nwaobi (York/Kilgore/Costal Bend/Westbrook) made a layup with just under four minutes remaining. USF scored the tying and go-ahead bucket a minute later, converting an 'And-one', holding on over the next three minutes for the win.

• Lawrence finished with 13 points, four rebounds, a team-best four steals, and and assist while logging 36 minutes of action.
• Nwaobi recorded seven points, making three of his four shots, with three rebounds and an assist in 16 minutes off the bench.
• Senior guard Jerry Abushanab (Glendale Heights, Ill./Oklahoma Panhandle State/Southwest Baptist/Link Prep) collected a team-leading eight rebounds, along with five points, two assists and a steal.
• Redshirt sophomore guard Jordan Streeter (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) pulled down six rebounds while adding five points and a blocked shot.

Saint Xavier (6-8, 4-3 CCAC) welcomes Trinity Christian College (Ill.) to the Shannon Center on Saturday, January 10. The game is scheduled for a 3:00 pm start.