DUBUQUE - The Xavier Saints celebrated Valentine's Day a week early Tuesday night.

Carter Valentine scored 14 points as the Saints defeated Dubuque Hempstead, 53-47, in a Mississippi Valley Conference game in Dubuque.

Xavier led by 16 points and had to withstand a strong fourth-quarter rally by the hosts, who pulled within five points with three seconds left in the game.

Kevin Hosch collected eight points, six rebounds and five assists for Xavier (7-11, 6-7). Mack Mattke also scored eight points in a balanced attack.

Alex Smith topped Hempstead (3-15, 2-11) with 19 points.

XAVIER (53): McDermott 2 1-2 6, Hosch 3 2-4 8, Valentine 5 4-6 14, Mattke 3 2-2 8, Sampson 1 2-2 5, Ropp 2 0-0 4, Nelson 0 6-8 6, Frazier 1 0-0 2. Totals 17 17-24 53.

HEMPSTEAD (47): Smith 7 2-2 19, Weber 2 1-2 5, Breitbach 2 0-0 5, Dolson 3 1-1 8, Goerdt 2 0-0 4, Hermsen 0 3-4 3, Canfield 1 1-2 3. Totals 17 8-11 47.

Halftime - Xavier 27, Hempstead 18. 3-point goals - Xavier 2 (McDermott 1, Sampson 1), Hempstead (5 (Smith 3, Breitbach 1, Dolson 1).