Xavier Beats Temple 88-77 Brian Grants Jersey Retired

Tu Holloway led Xavier on the court with 21 points and nine rebounds but Brian Grant's pre-game speech aided in the effort.

Xavier, who is wounded by several injuries to players that were expected to contribute, beat the team that was expected to run away with the Atlantic-10 conference.  In beating the Owls, Xavier set an Atlantic-10 record by winning its 35th straight home conference game.  It eclipsed the record held by Temple from 12-10-87 through 2-19-91.

Grant who predated the Cintas Center was lightly recruited out of Georgetown High School but grew into a star for the Musketeers.  His former teammate, Chris Mack, is now the Xavier coach and is continuing a winning tradition.

"Brian wasn't recruited by many Division I schools.  He came to Xavier as part of a great recruiting class.  He was the least talked about," Mack remembered.  "It didn't take us long to realize he was pretty good.  He used every opportunity to work and get better."

Grant told the current squad to take advantage of every opportunity.  "Today your opportunity is Temple," Grant said.

Grant was the eighth player picked in the 1994 NBA draft and crafted a 12-year career in the NBA.  Known for his solid defense and tenacious rebounding, he has a current struggle on his hands.

His hand trembled with the onset of Parkinson's Disease as he thanked former teammates and Sister Rose Anne Fleming before his retired number 33 was unveiled.  Aaron Williams, who also played in the NBA and Jamie Gladden made the trip to honor their friends.

Mack remembered throwing water balloons with Grant from a dormitory room facing Victory Parkway.  They hit 30 or 40 cars before they hit a police car.  They quickly put down the shades but they opened a lifetime of achievement as friends.

Grant has set up a fund to help find a cure for the disease that he fights individually, daily.  The motto "Shake Until We Find a Cure"

Mack says that Grant still finds a way to take advantage of opportunities.

"I think he looks at the disease as an opportunity to help find a cure," Mack said.

Xavier hit some big shots in a tight game to take advantage of their opportunity against Temple.  The win kept the Musketeers in a tie for the A-10 lead at 5-0. Since losing to crosstown rival Cincinnati on January 6, Xavier has won all five conference games.