Chalmers

        TOLEDO, Ohio - Lionel Chalmers proved a prophet. Friday, he told Xavier assistant coach Jeff Battle, “You'll see the real Lionel Chalmers (on Saturday). It's time for me to step up.”

        The real Lionel Chalmers made a really big shot, sinking Toledo with his buzzer-beating 3-pointer.

        “That's poetic justice,” XU coach Skip Prosser said. “After Lionel came out of the starting lineup, he worked super-hard in practice, spent extra time shooting. He was big tonight, and hit a huge, huge shot.”

        The sophomore guard is a rookie, after sitting out his freshman year as a partial qualifier, but he started the first seven games of the season and led the team in minutes at 32.1 per game, averaging 9.8 points.

        When junior Lloyd Price was healthy enough to join the starting lineup, Chalmers was the odd man out. He averaged just 15 minutes and four points the past two games.

        “He has handled it the right way,” Battle said. “He hasn't pouted. We told him to keep working and eventually it would pay off.”

        Saturday, starting point guard Maurice McAfee drew his fourth foul with 12:55 left to play. Chalmers came in and directed a 20-5 run which gave XU an 11-point lead.

        Chalmers hit two free throws with 55 seconds left and swished the winning shot from 22 feet. He finished with 12 points, three steals, three rebounds, two assists and one turnover in 19 minutes.

        “I've just been waiting for my time,” Chalmers said. “I've gotta play hard, and I've gotta continue to do so.”

        ROAD WARRIORS: XU, which had won only six of its past 22 road games before playing Jan. 14 at Cincinnati, has won back-to-back thrillers on the road.

        “The UC game was big for us tonight,” Battle said. “It helped being in that tough environment and learning how to win. That helped guys not get rattled tonight. That's huge for us, guys starting to mature on the road, showing poise.”

        AWARDS: XU's triumphs over UC and Marquette last week earned it National Team of the Week honors from Dick Vitale's Web site.

        Sophomore center David West, who averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds in those two games, was named National Player of the Week by ESPN's Andy Katz and FoxSports.com. West won the same award in fan balloting on CBSsportsline.com.

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