ST. LOUIS – Redshirt junior forward
Vlad Karasev (Moscow, Russia/Jamestown/Collin/Spring Creek Academy) made quite the debut for the Saint Xavier University men's basketball team (0-1/0-0 CCAC), posting a double-double with 20 points and a game-high 10 rebounds (five offensive), along with a game-best four steals and an assist, however the Cougars lost their 2026-27 season opener, 86-76, to Harris-Stowe State University (Mo.) Friday evening in St. Louis, Mo. Karasev shot 7-for-11 from the field and he was 5-for-6 from the foul line.
- Junior guard Don Ferguson (St. Cloud, Minn./Augustana (S.D.)/St. Cloud Tech) made his SXU debut as well, collecting 15 points on 4-for-8 shooting, and was 3-for-4 from three-point range with a rebound.
- Redshirt junior guard Maurice Thomas (Chicago, Ill./Trinidad State/Wisconsin-Milwaukee/DePaul College Prep) tallied 12 points, an assist, a rebound and a steal in his first game with Saint Xavier.
- Redshirt senior guard DJ Wilson (Schaumburg, Ill./Maryville/Panola/Schaumburg) finished in double-figures also, netting 12 points. He made five of nine shot attempts with four rebounds and an assist.
- Redshirt junior guard Miles Gillespie (Crete, Ill./Joliet JC/Crete-Monee) collected eight points by shooting 3-for-4 from the floor, three rebounds and a steal.
- Senior forward Marko Tojagic (Belgrade, Serbia/Saint Andrews) pulled down six rebounds, adding four points, an assist and a steal.
- Redshirt freshman guard John Ridger (Stockholm, Sweden/Mississippi Christian/Rig Lulea) scored three points and handed out an assist in his debut for the Cougars.
- Freshman guard Demetri Lewis (Houston, Texas/Houston Christian) recorded two points, two rebounds and an assist in his collegiate debut.
Saint Xavier (0-1/0-0 CCAC) has a quick turnaround as they take on University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (Mo.) on Saturday, October 31. The game is set for a 4:00 pm start.
