Ryan Conwell helps Xavier hand Wake Forest its first loss

Ryan Conwell poured in 21 points and helped steady Xavier several times in a 75-60 victory against visiting Wake Forest on Saturday afternoon in Cincinnati.

Dayvion McKnight supplied 13 points and Zach Freemantle notched 11 for the Musketeers (4-0).

Xavier received its stiffest test in four home games to begin its schedule but outscored the Demon Deacons by 30-15 from beyond the 3-point arc.

Hunter Sallis led Wake Forest (4-1) with 16 points and Davin Cosby, boosted by three 3-pointers, added 13. Tre’Von Spillers provided eight points and nine rebounds for the Demon Deacons.

Wake Forest, playing in its first true road game, was charged with 18 turnovers.

Conwell shot only 5-for-14 from the field, but he knocked down four shots from 3-point range and he also went 7-for-8 on free throws. He’s in his first season with the Musketeers and matched his point total from the season opener.

Xavier collected 12 offensive rebounds, with Freemantle gathering three of those. The work on the boards helped make up for 40.4-percent shooting from the field for the Musketeers.

The Demon Deacons continued to struggle from outside the arc. Take away Cosby, and they were a combined 2-for 10 on 3s.

Wake Forest, which trailed for stretches in the second halves of its previous two games in narrow triumphs against Michigan and USC Upstate, stayed within range at 50-44. A three-play play from Freemantle pushed Xavier’s lead to 61-46 with 6:40 to play.

Cosby posted five straight points for Wake Forest in a bid for a comeback, closing the gap to 64-53 before a pair of Conwell free throws at the 5:16 mark.

After holding a 12-point edge, Xavier led 34-24 at halftime.

The Musketeers were held to three points for almost the first four minutes after halftime before Conwell’s 3-pointer.

This game was dubbed the Skip Prosser Classic in memory of the man who coached for both schools.

–Field Level Media