Lipscomb @ Xavier preview

For the first time this season, No. 23 Xavier has to rebound from a loss Saturday when it hosts Lipscomb in non-conference action. The Musketeers opened the season with six straight wins before falling to Florida last weekend in the championship game of the Charleston Classic.

The Musketeers allowed the Gators to score 39 first-half points, and Florida shot better than 54 percent for the game, so it's no surprise that coach Travis Steele was unhappy with the defensive effort. "That's just inexcusable. That's not who we are," he said. "We can't be that way moving forward." Perhaps Xavier's defense will be better against a Lipscomb team that lost four straight games earlier this month but now is seeking its third straight victory. This is the third game of a four-game road trip for the Bisons, who have topped Navy and Tennessee Tech in their last two games following a four-game slide.

TV: Noon ET, FSN

ABOUT LIPSCOMB (3-4): The Bisons have two double-digit scorers on the season in KJ Johnson (14.0 points) and Ahsan Asadullah (13.2), who also averages 11.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steals. Johnson has made multiple 3-pointers in each of the last two games after going 3-of-13 from beyond the arc in the first five games. Asadullah had a double-double in four of his first five contests before falling a rebound shy (14 points, nine boards) in the win over Tennessee Tech.

ABOUT XAVIER (6-1): Paul Scruggs had a team-high 24 points against Florida, although he also committed six of the team's 18 turnovers. Tyrique Jones, who chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds, leads the team with 8.7 rebounds. Jones (14.3 points) is third on the team in scoring behind Scruggs (15.3) and Naji Marshall (14.6), who had a season-low six points in 33 minutes against Florida.

TIP-INS

1. Jones has three double-doubles and has pulled down at least six rebounds in every game.

2. Scruggs already has fouled out in three of the six games that he has played.

3. Asadullah is just 8-of-21 from the free-throw line.

PREDICTION: Xavier 70, Lipscomb 62