The focal point of Xavier's defense was obvious: try to contain the nation's leading scorer. Wildcats' forward Eric Dixon averages 25.3 points per game and Xavier frequently met the veteran forward with double teams near the rim to try to get the ball out of his hands.

Xavier's next seven games are against teams currently over .500 in Big East play, beginning Tuesday when Villanova visits Cintas Center.

Tonight, we finally broke through. I'm proud of our guys." After five losses by six points or less since Dec. 5, Xavier earns a hard-fought Quadrant 2 victory and pulls within one game of .500 (3-4) in Big East play before a tough stretch to end January.

Xavier won a pair of thrillers over Georgetown last season by a combined six points. The two will meet Friday night in Washington, D.C.

Xavier is three games under .500 in the Big East for the first time since the final month of the Travis Steele era after falling to St. John's at Cintas Center.