ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Xavier hasn't really looked back since erasing an early six-point deficit and leads by 6 at halftime over Dayton, 35-29. X led by as many as 12 before a short run by the Flyers cut it to the halftime deficit.

Everything was going right for Xavier at certain points of the first half. The Musketeers -- whose mascot finally showed up, thankfully -- had one sequence where Derrick Brown stole the ball, tossed it to a teammate while falling out of bounds, then got the ball immediately back and was fouled on a fast-break layup.

Marcus Johnson has 10 (but 2 fouls) for the Flyers, while Brian Roberts has 8. Jimmy Binnie also has 3 fouls for Dayton, picking up his third on a charge with just over a minute left in the half. Drew Lavender has 9 for the Musketeers. Derrick Brown and Stanley Burrell have 5 each.

Meanwhile, the wireless internet here at Boardwalk Hall continues to be worse than any of the basketball played so far.