QUEENS, N.Y. ‒ A few steps outside the Xavier men's basketball locker room Wednesday night in Carnesecca Arena, head coach Sean Miller was surrounded by a handful of reporters, answering questions, when point guard Souley Boum walked up, put an arm around Miller's shoulder, and said, "Good job tonight, coach."
It was a candid moment following a hard-fought battle on the road, one in which Xavier survived a late push from St. John's for an 84-79 win, the Musketeers' seventh win in a row.
Xavier, No. 22 in the newest Associated Press top 25 poll, was in cruise control for much of the game, dominating the Red Storm at both ends while building an 18-point second half that dwindled in the closing minutes after an impressive surge from the home team.