CINCINNATI — University at Albany coach Will Brown knew his team would be in trouble on Tuesday evening if Xavier was making there shots.

That’s exactly what the Musketeers did.

Led by Schenectady native Mark Lyons, who scored 18 points and knocked down a career-high six 3-pointers, Xavier defeated UAlbany 88-64 at the Cintas Center for their 30th straight home victory.

Lyons actually rode with the Great Danes (7-7), after getting snowed in during the holidays in the Capital District.

He made them pay right away, hitting five treys in the first 15 minutes

“In the first 10 minutes of the game, defensively, we looked like a team that had been off for a few days,” Brown said.

Xavier had been shooting just 27 percent (46-169) from beyond the arc heading into the game.

On this night, the Musketeers (8-3) finished 14-for-28 (50 percent) from long distance, led by Lyons’ half dozen.

Dante Jackson hit four 3-pointers and Xavier’s leading scorer Tu Holloway hit three, finishing with 11 points.

The Great Danes were actually in the game for a long time, trailing by just nine at halftime, but in the end their shortcomings on the glass really hurt their chances.

Xavier finished with a 38-23 edge in rebounding, led by Jamel McLean, who finished with a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with his 15 points.

“We didn’t have a run in us in the second half,” Brown said. “I thought we fatigued.”

The Great Danes got a game-high 24 points from senior Tim Ambrose, while Logan Aronhalt added 17 and point guard Mike Black finished with 11.

“I’m not as upset at the final score as I am with our sense of urgency,” Brown said.

UAlbany redshirt freshman guard Ralph Watts missed the second half because of an ankle injury.

The Great Danes close out the calendar year on Thursday when they play at Wagner.

“We have to regroup and get ready to matchup against Wagner,” said Brown.

Logan Aronhalt has had a terrific start to his sophomore season.

It's one that UAlbany coach Will Brown hopes isn't stunted at all by a lower back injury that his sophomore captain suffered in the team's last game against Colgate.

Aronhalt played just 13 minutes against the Raiders in a 63-61 victory because he landed hard on his tailbone.

"I'd be shocked if he can go through an entire practice today," Brown said Monday morning from Cincinnati. "I don't know how much he will play tomorrow."

Aronhalt hasn't practiced since that game, is still having trouble bending and running and so the team's 12-hour bus ride couldn't have helped his back.

Brown said that his second leading scorer is a "coin flip" to play against the Musketeers.

"For me to play him tomorrow, I have to be confident that he can help us and that he's comfortable out there," Brown said.

Brown knows that Aronhalt will want to play because he's from nearby Zanesville, about 150 miles east of Cincinnati.

With the conference opener against New Hampshire coming on Jan. 2, Brown is concerned about getting Logan back to 100 percent.

"I absolutely am more concerned about him being able to play in our conference opener than I am in these next two games," he said.

Siena coach Fran McCaffery could be getting close to extended his current contract. 

Fox's Rich Becker is reporting that the school is close to extended his contract which has two years remaining on it. 

McCaffery also said on the radio program Sound Off With Sinkoff on Tuesday that Xavier had not contacted him or the school about their opening after Sean Miller left for Arizona on Monday. 

McCaffery reportedly made just more than $400,000 in 2008.