The Xavier Saints ordered their Burger with extra relish Friday night.

Mitchell Burger tossed in seven 3-pointers and poured in a school-record 34 points as the Saints topped Waterloo West, 84-76, in an entertaining Mississippi Valley Conference game at Ron Thillen Gymnasium.

Burger snapped Adam McDermott's record of 32 points, set last season against Iowa City High, and he matched the school record for most 3-pointers in a single game, tying the mark set by Jon Keller in 2010.

Burger, a 5-foot-10 senior, was averaging 10.5 points when the night began, so he more than tripled his average with a sensational display against Waterloo West.

"He was special tonight," Xavier coach Ryan Luehrsmann said. "I've been waiting for him to have a breakout game like this. He's certainly capable of big outbursts in the scoring column.

"It was huge," Luehrsmann said. "We needed it tonight to get it done and I couldn't be more happy for him as a senior to step up and have than kind of moment tonight."

Burger barely missed the entire game and drilled his final 3-pointer with 67 seconds left to give Xavier a 76-69 lead and a little cushion heading into the final seconds. He made a steal and layup for an 80-72 margin with 37 seconds remaining and cashed two free throws for an 82-74 edge for his 33rd and 34th points with 19 seconds to go.

"I've been in a big slump lately, but I'm finally starting to get my confidence back," Burger said. "My teammates got me open tonight, and when they got me open I started to hit it, I guess."

Max Techau poured in 20 points with slick moves around the basket and Matt Mims added 14 as the Saints, ranked No. 4 in Class 3A, raised their record to 7-1. Ryan Stulken put an exclamation mark on the victory with a crowd-pleasing dunk with four seconds to go.

Burger averaged 13.5 points last season as a junior when the Saints finished 18-9 and placed third at the Class 3A state tournament. McDermott, Calvin Winker, Michael Mims and Connor Ramlo graduated from that club, leaving Burger as the only returning starter and the leader of a new team.

"I think it's been unchartered territory for him," Luehrsmann said. "He's never been counted on as a leader before. We're leaning heavily on him right now.

"I just love his competitive nature," the coach said. "Very few like to compete as hard as he does and like winning. That was on display tonight. He loves to be in big moments and wants the ball in his hands. And he certainly responded."

The Saints have a new starting lineup with Burger, Techau, Matt Mims, Stulken and Jackson Joens, but they've meshed nicely and are a serious threat to make the state tournament again. Burger likes the way the Saints have come together this season.

"It's actually been pretty easy," he said. "We've been playing a lot since the summer, so all our chemistry is pretty much coming together real well and we're starting to play really well."

Burger appeared humbled by breaking the school record with his 34 points.

"It kind of feels great, with all the great players that have been through here with Adam McDermott and those guys," he remarked. "They're better players than me."

The Saints defeated a dangerous team Friday night. Waterloo West fell to 2-5 for the campaign, but the Wahawks have talented players who gave the Saints a tough challenge.

"We had a hard time stopping them," Luehrsmann said. "I'm just proud of our guys. We had enough gumption and poise to make plays down the stretch to pull away."

Gabe Pepin scored 20 points to lead Waterloo West. Amel Kuljuhovic scored 14 points, Javan Lanier 12 and Jacory Spates 11.

WATERLOO WEST (76): Cooper 1 0-0 2, Lanier 5 0-0 12, Spates 5 0-0 11, Pepin 7 2-2 20, Howze 0 0-0 0, Caddell 2 0-2 4, Burt 3 0-0 6, Harris-Anderson 3 1-2 7, Kuljohovic 6 2-3 14. Totals 32 5-9 76.

XAVIER (84): Burger 12 3-4 34, Mims 5 3-3 14, Butkowski 1 1-2 3, Whitten 0 0-0 0, Joens 1 3-4 5, Stulken 3 0-2 6, Schulte 1 0-0 2, Techau 10 0-2 20, Johnson 0 0-0 0. Totals 33 10-17 84.

Halftime - Xavier 35, Waterloo West 31. 3-point goals - Waterloo West 7 (Pepin 4, Lanier 2, Spates 1), Xavier 8 (Burger 7, Mims 1).