Saint Louis can't solve X Factor
Posted: 03.10.2012 at 6:14 PM

(AP) -- Tu Holloway scored 21 points and Kenny Frease grabbed a big rebound and made two late free throws as Xavier advanced to the Atlantic 10 Conference title game with a 71-64 victory over Saint Louis on Saturday.

Freshman Dezmine Wells added 18 points and Mark Lyons had 14 for the third-seeded Musketeers (21-11), who will face fourth-seeded St. Bonaventure (19-11) Sunday for the league's automatic NCAA berth.

The Bonnies beat eighth-seeded Massachusetts 84-80 in the first semifinal at Boardwalk Hall.


Xavier, which has been to six straight NCAA tournaments, won the earlier meeting this season 77-64.


Brian Conklin had 14 points for Saint Louis (25-7), which certainly will get its first NCAA bid since Rick Majerus became coach in 2007-08.

The Billikens were last in the tournament in 2000.

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