College Basketball: Xavier halts 3-game skid with a victory in Honolulu

Xavier ended a three-game losing streak with an 87-77 win Sunday over Southern Illinois in the seventh-place game of the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu.

Before a sparse, morning crowd on Christmas Day, the No. 14 Musketeers (9-3) won for the first time since Dec. 10, when they beat Cincinnati in a game cut short in the closing seconds by brawling and mayhem on the court.

This was the first three-game losing streak for Xavier under coach Chris Mack and first since the 2007-08 season.

Tu Holloway scored 21 points for Xavier, and teammate Mark Lyons added 17 and snagged 10 rebounds.

The Salukis (3-8), losers of three in a row, were led by Dantiel Daniels with 22 points. Southern Illinois drew to 68-64 at 8:45 after a three-point play by Daniels, but an 8-1 run gave the Musketeers a nine-point cushion.

Hawaii 75, Clemson 68 - In the fifth-place game of the Diamond Head Classic, Zane Johnson made six three-pointers and finished with 27 points to lead the Rainbow Warriors over the Tigers.

Vander Joaquim added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Hawaii (7-5). Johnson finished 8 of 14 from the field.

Andre Young scored 14 points to lead Clemson (7-6). Devin Booker added 13 points and seven rebounds, and Tanner Smith had 12 points.

The Rainbow Warriors, who trailed, 34-28, with 1:45 left in first half, went on a 9-0 run to start the second half for a 40-34 lead.

UTEP 83, Auburn 76 - In the third-place game of the Diamond Head Classic, John Bohannon tied his career high with 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Miners over the Tigers.

The 6-foot-10 center was one of five players in double figures for the Miners (6-6), including Michael Perez, who scored 18 points. The Tigers (8-3) were led by Kenny Gabriel and his game-high 24 points.