Xavier Boys Basketball

Saints jump to 10th in basketball poll

The Xavier Saints climbed into the Associated Press boys basketball poll Monday for the first time this season by claiming the No. 10 spot in the rankings.

Ryan Luehrsmann has led the Saints to a perfect 5-0 record in his first year as head coach.

Xavier visits Jefferson Tuesday night and will host top-ranked Iowa City West on Friday.

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Nelson looms large in Xavier upset win

Junior Matt Nelson scored 26 points to lead Xavier to a 71-70 overtime win over 10th-ranked West Des Moines Dowling in a non-conference game Saturday afternoon at Xavier.

It was a battle because Dowling knocked down 12 3-point baskets.

“Certainly they were hitting their 3-pointers today,” said Xavier Coach Ryan Luehrsmann.  “We just had to weather the storm, keep pounding the paint and hitting our free throws.”

That strategy provided the win for the Saints. Nelson, Xavier’s 6-foot-8 post man, dominated the lane at both ends.  He led all scorers, making 11 field goals and 4 of 5 free throws, and took away the lane on the defensive end.

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Saints notch 1st MVC win for Luehrsmann

Three players scored in double figures and gave Xavier boys basketball coach Ryan Luehrsmann his first Mississippi Valley Conference victory Friday night in a 57-45 win over Dubuque Hempstead at the Xavier gym.

Trey Sampson led the Saints with 14 points. Matt Nelson and Corbin Woods added 11 points apiece.

“It’s a fun group and they have the right approach to the game and are very well-disciplined,” said Luehrsmann, whose team is off to a 4-0 start in his rookie season.“We needed to keep them off the boards and they are very athletic and second chance points were a factor, too.”

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Sampson nets 18 as Saints roll

OTTUMWA - Trey Sampson collected 18 points, four assists and four steals Tuesday as the Xavier Saints stayed undefeated with a 63-33 victory at Ottumwa.

Adam McDermott chipped in with 13 points for the Saints (3-0). Matt Nelson grabbed eight rebounds.

Carter Burns led Ottumwa (0-2) with 12 points.

XAVIER (63): Sampson 7 3-3 18, Mullin 0 2-4 2, Thinnes 3 0-0 6, Schulte 1 0-0 2, Woods 2 0-0 4, Nelson 2 2-2 6, Winker 2 2-2 8, McDermott 5 1-2 13, Scholer 0 0-0 0, Hill 1 0-0 2. Totals 24 10-13 63.

OTTUMWA (33): Keck 2 1-2 6, A.Altfillisch 3 0-0 7, Hopwood 0 1-2 1, Schneckloth 0 2-2 2, Walker 0 3-6 3, Burns 5 2-2 12, Peden 0 2-2 2. Totals 10 11-16 33.

Halftime - Xavier 27, Ottumwa 15. 3-point goals - Xavier 5 (Winker 2, McDermott 2, Sampson 1), Ottumwa 2 (Keck 1, A.Altfillisch 1).