Xavier still trying to eliminate lulls

Leading up to CINCINNATI — the showdown with Villanova for control of the Big East, Xavier coach Chris Mack had one overriding concern: “If we play one good half and one bad half, we won’t win.”

That’s exactly what happened. No. 4 Xavier came out tight, committed early fouls and missed open shots, and the third-ranked Wildcats raced ahead by 19 points. Xavier recovered in the second half and cut the lead to three, but couldn’t get any closer as Villanova held on for a 95-79 win.

The outcome left Xavier (24-4, 12-3) tied with Villanova (24-3, 11-3) in the loss column for the league lead. It also reminded the Musketeers of their biggest shortcoming in one of their best seasons — they hit a lull that’s hard to explain. “We have the potential to be really good,” said top scorer Trevon Bluiett, who had 26 points against Villanova. “Our problem is we are a one-half team.”

The Musketeers have a tendency to ease up at times, giving opponents a chance to get momentum. It’s a focus as they prepare for a rematch at Georgetown (1510, 5-9) today.

Xavier held its ground in the Top 25 despite the loss on Saturday. Three days earlier, the Musketeers beat Seton Hall 102-90 at the Cintas Center in another game of dramatic swings. Xavier’s defense clamped down in the first half, setting up a 45-25 lead. The Musketeers eased up, Seton Hall hit some shots, and the Pirates went on to score 65 points in the second half, turning it into a close game.