Myles Davis’ triple-double helps Xavier start key stretch right

Providence guard Kris Dunn has been filling up the stat sheet all season for a team that needs him to be a superstar night in and night out.

Myles Davis has put together a workmanlike junior season for one of the most well-rounded teams in the country at Xavier and Wednesday night he stole Dunn’s thunder.

Davis produced the first triple-double at Xavier in five years in a 85-74 victory over No. 23 Providence that the eighth-ranked Musketeers controlled throughout. Davis scored 11 points with 12 assists and 12 rebounds as Xavier improved to 22-3 overall and 10-3 in the Big East.

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Dunn finished the game with 23 points, 11 rebounds and six assists but he also had seven turnovers and never got his team in the right frame of mind to make it close in the end.

It was the start of a pivotal five-game closing stretch to the regular season for the Musketeers. How Xavier finishes these five games could go along way toward deciding whether coach Chris Mack’s team can earn its highest ever seed in the NCAA Tournament next month.

Xavier has never been better than a No. 3 seed but in our latest rankings, the Musketeers have a strong case for a No. 2 seed, which is where Brad Evans has them. Xavier is 5-1 against teams ranked in the top-25 this season, that is the best mark in the country.

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The Musketeers made it look easy at times against the Friars. They scored 52 points in the first half, the most Providence has given up in a half this season and led by 19 at one point. The Friars made a run in the second half but didn’t have the offensive consistency to finish it off.

Xavier’s options don’t seem to stop. Mack often goes with a four-guard lineup with the ability to supplement with a number of forwards who bring different skills. Trevon Bluett led the Musketeers with 23 points. Edmond Sumner scored 11 and Jalen Reynolds had 10 with 15 rebounds.

Xavier has a trip to Georgetown, a home game with No. 1 Villanova, a road game at Seton Hall and the regular season finale at home against Creighton. If it can win three of those four games and play deep in the conference tournament as expected, this might be the year the Musketeers earn a No. 1 or No. 2 seed.

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[Kyle Ringo is the assistant editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KyleRingo