CINCINNATI -- No second-half slump. No. 13 Xavier held on tightly to this lead, right to the finish.J.P. Macura emerged from his shooting slump by scoring 18 points, and RaShid Gaston helped No. 13 Xavier get the edge up front against the nations top rebounding team, leading the Musketeers to a 77-69 victory over Utah on Saturday.The Musketeers (8-2) were coming off back-to-back road losses that featured long scoring droughts in the second half. Xaviers balanced offense built a 15-point lead in the first half, and the Musketeers stayed ahead the rest of the way.Weve dropped two in a row by taking our foot off the gas pedal in the second half, Gaston said . We wanted to keep the pressure on and finish down the stretch.After you take two losses back-to-back, theres not much that needs to be said. You approach it with the right mentality -- by any means necessary, youve got to get the win.Gaston had 11 points and 14 rebounds, helping Xavier to a 33-28 edge on the boards. The Utes (6-2) came in averaging 47.7 rebounds. Gaston had nine points and 10 rebounds -- one less than Utahs total -- in the first half.RaShid has always been tough, said guard Malcolm Bernard, who had 11 points. Hes a bull down there, for real. His offense doesnt get as much credit as it needs to get.Macura was 5 of 7 from beyond the arc after going only 2 of 16 in his last three games. Trevon Bluiett also scored 18 points, hitting all six of his free throws in the final minute as Xavier closed it out.Down the stretch, we just have to be a smarter team, coach Chris Mack said . Maybe we just havent been in that situation enough. Well get better.Freshman Devon Daniels had a career-high 19 points for the Utes , whose two losses have been against ranked Big East teams. They also lost to Butler at home.That was our first true test on the road, coach Larry Krystkowiak said. I had to see how we would respond. We need consistency. We have different guys having good games, but not many back-to-back. It is usually someone different every night.BIG PICTUREUtah: The Utes top two scorers -- Kyle Kuzma and Tyler Rawson -- were a combined 2 of 10 for five points in the first half as Xavier took control. Kuzma finished with 11 points -- his second-lowest total of the season -- and Rawson a season-low three.Xavier: The Musketeers went through long second-half scoring droughts during their losses. Utah opened the second half with an 11-4 spurt but couldnt get any closer.POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Musketeers figure to slip in the Top 25 based upon their 68-66 loss at Colorado on Wednesday, but limited the damage with their win on Saturday.BAD LUCK STATEThe Utes fell to 0-5 in the state of Ohio, also losing twice at Ohio State and twice at Cincinnati.NO SLUMPSXavier hasnt lost three in a row since 2013-14, its first season in the Big East.FROM THE LINEXavier shot only 66 percent from the free-throw line in its two losses. The Musketeers all 10 of their free throws in the final minute against Utah and finished 15 of 21.UP NEXTUtah hosts Prairie View A&M next Saturday, and then closes nonconference play the following week in Hawaii as part of the Diamond Head Classic.Xavier plays the first of four straight home games leading into Big East play, hosting Wake Forest next Saturday in the Skip Prosser Classic.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.orgSalomon Clearance Sale .1 million pounds ($61.2 million) on Saturday, giving the beleaguered English Premier League champions a major lift. Cheap Salomon Shoes Online . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. http://www.cheapsalomon.net/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Cheap Salomon Shoes From China .Y. -- Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Foligno did not practice with the team Monday and head coach Ron Rolston said its unlikely hell play in Wednesdays season opener in Detroit. Salomon Shoes Clearance . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. (STATS) -- The Citadels ability to deliver in the clutch is why it is off to the best start in school history.The No. 5 Bulldogs came through again Saturday, edging Wofford 24-21 in overtime to push their record to 7-0 under first-year coach Brent Thompson.The Citadel and top-ranked Sam Houston State are the only unbeaten teams in the FCS.Cody Clarks 21-yard field goal in overtime gave The Citadel the lead before Ben Roberts recovered Wofford running back William Gays fumble on the Terriers possession. It was Woffords fourth turnover.We cant put the ball on the ground, Wofford coach Mike Ayers said. They are too good to give them more opportunities.The Citadel, which leads the SoCon with a 5-0 conference record, has won five games by eight points or less.In a matchup of two triple option offenses, The Citadel was held to 190 rushing yards, just under half of its FCS-leading average. Fullback Tyler Renew led the Bulldogs with 84 yards on 23 carries, and Reggie Williams and Dominique Allen both rushed for touchdowns.The Citadel tied the game 21-21 on K.D. Williams 13-yard interception return for a touchdown with 5:57 remaining in the fourth quarter.The Bulldogs entered the game tied with their 1992 squad for the best start in school history. The 92 squad ended the regular season ranked No. 1 in the nation.Wofford gained 299 rushing yards, led by Lorenzo Longs 103 yards.---=STATS FCS TOP 25 SCHEDULE=Saturday, Oct. 22No. 1 Sam Houston State (7-0, 6-0 Southland) 38, Nicholls (3-4, 3-2) 21Sam Houston won its first game as the No. 1 team in the nation as Jeremiah Briscoe completed 32 of 48 passes for 419 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.Tight end Deon Hutchinson caught two TDs, giving him five touchdowns among seven receptions this season.---=No. 2 Jacksonville State (6-1, 3-0 OVC) 24, Eastern Kentucky (2-5, 1-3) 7The Gamecocks intercepted five passes and returned three of them for touchdowns in their 20th straight Ohio Valley Conference win. Jaylen Hill had two of the picks, including a 60-yard TD return, and Joel McCandless and Reggie Hall scored on 41- and 88-yard returns, respectively.---=No. 3 Eastern Washington (6-1, 4-0 Big Sky) 41, Montana State (2-6, 0-5) 17EWU sophomore Gage Gubrud was 37 of 51 for 520 yards and four touchdowns.Senior Cooper Kupp caught 13 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown, and set the Eagles career record for all-purpose yards (6,079). Like Jacksonville States Josh Barge, he has caught a pass in 45 straight games -- tying the FCS record.---=No. 4 North Dakota State (6-1, 3-1 Missouri Valley) 21, No. 12 Western Illinois (5-2, 2-2) 13King Frazier rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns as five-time defending FCS champion NDSU rebounded from its first loss.Western Illinois quarterback Sean McGuire committed three turnovers in the games final eight minutes.---=No. 6 Richmond (7-1, 4-1 CAA) 35, Elon (2-5, 1-3) 7The Spiders made it five straight wins as quarterback Kyle Lauletta threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns, and freshman Deontez Thompson rushed for 116 yards and scored two touchdowns.---=No. 7 South Dakota State (5-2, 4-0) 24, No. 13 Youngstown State (5-2, 3-1) 10SDSU won the first-place showdown in the Missouri Valley Conference as quarterback Taryn Christion had 249 yards of total offense and threw for two touchdowns.Brady Mengarelli scored on a 2-yard run in the games third minute, the first rushing touchdown surrendered by Youngstown State this season.---=No. 9 Charleston Southern (4-2, 2-0 Big South) 38, Presbyterian (2-5, 1-2) 3Quarterbacks Shane Bucenell and Robert Mitchell didnt show much rust as CSU returned from a three-week layoff. Bucenell was 13 of 14 for 156 yards and rushed for a touchdown, while Mitchell ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns, including a 78-yarder.Presbyterian managed only 102 offensive yards.---=Northern Arizona (4-4, 3-2) 45, No. 10 Montana (5-2, 2-2) 34The surging Lumberjacks tripped Montana after the Grizzlies had scored 135 points over their two prevvious games.ddddddddddddBlake Kemp threw for 259 yards and four touchdowns in the win. Montana quarterback Brady Gustafson was 34 of 59 for 394 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.---=No. 11 Chattanooga (7-1, 5-1 Southern) 30, VMI (3-4, 1-3) 13Chattanooga didnt have standout running back Derrick Craine, but Richarde Bagley picked up the slack with 189 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. Quarterback Alejandro Bennifield had both a touchdown pass and run.---=No. 14 North Carolina A&T (6-1, 4-0 MEAC) 34, Howard (1-7, 1-4) 7Tarik Cohen rushed for 133 yards and a touchdown and became the 10th player in FCS history to reach 1,000 rushing yards in four different seasons. He raised his career rushing total to a MEAC-record 5,054 yards.Quarterback Lamar Raynard threw for three touchdowns, including two to Denzel Keyes.---=Murray State (2-5, 2-2 OVC) 40, No. 15 Eastern Illinois (5-3, 3-2) 38Eastern Illinois committed six turnovers in a surprising home loss. Murray States Connor Mitchell was 6-for-6 on field goal attempts, and quarterback KD Humphries had 330 yards of total offense and a touchdown pass.Devin Church led EIU with 213 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns.---=No. 16 Villanova (6-2, 4-1 CAA) 24, No. 23 Albany (4-3, 1-3) 13Aaron Forbes rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns and the Villanova defense had nine sacks and forced two turnovers. Linebacker Ed Shockley collected 10 tackles, including four for loss with 3? sacks, and had a fumble recovery.---=No. 17 Cal Poly (5-2, 3-1 Big Sky) 21, UC Davis (2-6, 1-4) 9In the Battle for the Golden Horseshoe, Cal Polys Kyle Lewis scored on a 91-yard run with 2:54 remaining to extend the Mustangs 14-9 lead. He finished with 141 yards on eight carries and Joe Protheroe added another 95 yards in a 320-yard ground assault.---=No. 17-tie Coastal Carolina (5-2) 33, Central Connecticut State (1-6) 25Coastal linebacker Alex Scearce had three takeaways, scoring touchdowns on an interception and a fumble recovery, to spark the Chanticleers, who played without injured running back DeAngelo Henderson. Tyler Keane threw for two touchdowns.---=No. 19 North Dakota (6-2, 5-0 Big Sky) 28, Idaho State (2-5, 1-3) 21Keaton Studsrud passed for 173 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score, helping the Big Sky-leading Fighting Hawks control the ball for 39 minutes, 30 seconds.---=No. 20 Central Arkansas (6-1, 5-0) 22, Lamar (3-4, 3-2) 12Central Arkansas limited Lamar to 15 rushing yards on 34 carries, while quarterback Hayden Hildebrand passed for 208 yards and a touchdown.---=No. 21 Samford (6-1, 4-1 Southern) 30, Western Carolina (1-6, 0-5) 17Wide receiver Karel Hamilton caught 16 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns, and became Samfords all-time leader in receiving yards (3,166).Sophomore quarterback Devlin Hodges threw for 375 yards and accounted for three touchdowns.---=No. 22 Grambling State (5-1, 4-0 SWAC) 59, Mississippi Valley State (0-8, 0-6) 10The Tigers returned from a three-week layoff to notch an easy SWAC victory. DeVante Kincade passed for 326 yards as well as four first-half touchdowns.---=No. 24 Stony Brook (5-2, 4-0 CAA) 28, Delaware (2-5, 0-4) 3Defensive end John Haggart had 11 tackles, 5 1/2 tackles for loss, three sacks, forced three fumbles and recovered one as Stony Brook moved into a first-place tie in CAA Football with idle James Madison. The Seawolves have not allowed a touchdown in 10 quarters.Offensively, Stacy Bedell rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns.---=Vanderbilt (4-4) 35, No. 25 Tennessee State (5-2) 17Tennessee State trailed 21-17 at halftime, but was shut out in the second half of its third all-time game against an FBS opponent.Tigers quarterback Ronald Butler had 325 yards of total offense and passed for two touchdowns to Patrick Smith (seven receptions, 170 yards).---=IDLE=No. 8 James Madison (6-1, 4-0 CAA) ' ' '