Romain Sato checks Rumeal Robinson. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        Three Musketeers, this isn't. Xavier opened its exhibition basketball season Friday bent on developing depth, and its bench was bullish. Every scholarship player played before halftime, helping wear down the California Southeast All-Stars 101-76.

        Xavier, which in recent years has relied on six or seven players with only sporadic contribution past that point, happily dipped deep Friday. Eleven Musketeers scored in the first half, and the only one who didn't — reserve center Marcus Mason — still managed three rebounds and a steal before halftime.

        “We'll definitely be deeper this year,” senior point guard Maurice McAfee said. “This is the start of something big.”

Dave Young | ZOOM |

        It made for a pleasant 50th birthday for XU coach Skip Prosser, who all night implored his team to push the pace.

        “If we want to play at that pace, we have to play more guys than we did last year,” Prosser said. “We have to develop some guys off the bench. When our first wave of subs come in and the other team gets tired, our press should still be a blur.”

        A big concern entering Friday was ballhandling. In five intrasquad scrimmages, XU averaged more turnovers (29.2) than assists (18.8). But it totaled 23 assists Friday to 12 turnovers and forced the Cal All-Stars into 23 turnovers.

        Sophomore center David West and junior forward Lloyd Price tied as XU's top scorers with 16 points each; West also had nine rebounds. But the buzz came from the showings of XU's four newcomers.

David West | ZOOM |

        Freshman Romain Sato started at shooting guard and totaled 15 points, including four 3-pointers, four assists and no turnovers. Sophomore point guard Lionel Chalmers, making his debut after sitting out last season, had 15 points (including three 3-pointers), three steals and two assists.

        Junior-college transfer Khalil Nixon had eight points and five rebounds in eight minutes, and sophomore guard Dave Young — who sat out his freshman season — scored six points on two 3-pointers.

        “The new guys stepped up, and Romain and Lionel hit some big shots,” West said. “We're definitely deeper at every spot now.”

        COLEMAN OUT: XU announced Friday that freshman Anthony Coleman, a 6-foot-11, 194-pound forward, will redshirt this season.

        CAL ALL-STARS — Prince 3-8 0-0 6, Johnson 2-5 4-7 9, Goodwin 4-7 0-0 10, Staples 5-8 2-2 14, Robinson 3-7 0-0 7, Titus 4-8 1-2 9, Shannon 2-4 0-0 4, Hairston 6-10 3-5 15, Larry 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 30-58 10-16 76

        XAVIER — Frey 2-9 0-0 4, Price 7-12 1-3 16, West 8-17 0-3 16, Sato 4-8 3-4 15, McAfee 3-3 0-0 9, Chalmers 6-9 0-0 15, Nixon 3-4 2-4 8, Young 2-6 0-0 6, McIntosh 1-4 0-2 2, Brown 1-3 0-0 2, Mason 0-1 0-0 0, Butler 4-7 0-0 8. Totals: 41-83 6-16 101.

        Three-point field goals: Cal. All-Stars: 6-14 (Prince 0-2, Johnson 1-1, Goodwin 2-3, Staples 2-5, Robinson 1-3); XU 13-23 (Frey 0-1, Price 1-1, Sato 4-7, McAfee 3-3, Chalmers 3-5, Young 2-6)

        Halftime score: Xavier 50, California All-Stars 39

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