PC Friars

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Jeff Xavier's brother arrested for disorderly conduct in PC's loss to Marquette

02:34 PM EST on Sunday, January 18, 2009

BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

PROVIDENCE - Keno Davis grew up going to basketball games and has coached at the collegiate level since 1995. He's seen a lot of things, but never what he saw Saturday night early in the second half of PC's 91-82 loss to Marquette.

With 17:15 left, Jeff Xavier drove to the hoop and was hit in the face by Marquette's Joseph Fulce. No foul was called, and Geoff McDermott scooped up the loose ball and was fouled by Fulce.

Xavier rolled on the court in pain, holding his right eye and continually kicking his legs as trainers rushed to his aid. After Xavier made it to the PC bench and as McDermott waited to take his free throws, a man brazenly walked onto the floor and up to referee Todd Williams.

The man was later identified by Dunkin' Donuts Center general manager Larry Lepore as Jonathan Xavier, a brother of Jeff Xavier.

The man began to yell at the referee but never touched him before security guards finally grabbed him and pulled him off the floor.

Lepore said Jonathan Xavier was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.

Davis, as well as Marquette coach Buzz Williams, could not believe their eyes.

"Scary,'' said Williams. "I've never seen anything like that. I just wanted to pull my team off the court and get them away from that.''

Davis was equally amazed.

"I've seen some interesting things,'' he said. "I've been going to games since I was born, so I've seen some really unusual things. But that one probably doesn't even make the list.''

Players from both teams were remarkably unfazed. Marquette senior Jerel McNeal said he's seen fans walk onto the floor in high school games back home in Chicago. PC guard Marshon Brooks replaced Xavier in the Friar lineup and while he said he wasn't sure what was going on, he said he knows Jonathan Xavier.

"I wasn't scared. He thought that his brother got fouled, I guess. He wanted to get an explanation.''

Davis said he was concerned about his team's safety and is hoping that The Dunk's security force can be improved.

"I'm sure that the staff here at The Dunk will work to be better prepared,'' he said. "Just like we go through a game, you try to get better for the next time. We've got to make sure that we increase the security and how are they going to handle things [in the future]. It's just unique.''

Jeff Xavier's status for PC's game against Cincinnati on Monday night is unclear. He did not return to the game Saturday night and was sorely missed.

"I haven't talked to our trainer, but his eye was completely closed in the locker room,'' Davis said Saturday night. "It looked like he had been in a fight. I don't believe there was a foul called on that play. It was that type of scrappy contest where guys were fighting as hard as they could.''

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