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CINCINNATI -- After a sloppy opening win, No. 11 Xavier spent its time working on defense. It was much improved the second time around.J.P. Macura scored 18 points and the Musketeers took advantage of 38 personal fouls by Buffalo, pulling away for an 86-53 victory on Monday night.The Musketeers (2-0) quickly opened a double-digit lead and got the balance back in their offense after relying on career highs for points by Trevon Bluiett and Edmond Sumner in their opening 84-81 win over Lehigh. Bluiett and Sumner had 13 points apiece on Monday.We took a step forward today, said Rashid Gaston , who had nine points and seven rebounds.The defense was much better, too, allowing few uncontested shots.Practice these last past couple days have really geared toward defense, Gaston said. We had to play more team defense.Buffalo (1-1) couldnt keep up with Xaviers quickness and quickly got into foul trouble. The Bulls trailed 42-22 late in the first half and had more fouls (23) than points.Two Bulls fouled out with 8 minutes left in the game, and Xavier went 28 of 38 at the line. Macura made all of his 10 free throws.Our team used Buffalos aggressiveness to our advantage, coach Chris Mack said.Nick Perkins led the Bulls with 15 points, and they shot only 31 percent from the field. Some of the Bulls complained about the many fouls called, but coach Nick Oats didnt see it that way.We need to learn to play defense without fouling, Oats said. Our guys said they got (bad calls), but those officials worked the tournament. They didnt cost us 30 fouls.With the big lead, Mack was able to use some of the freshmen who struggled in the opening win. Guard Quentin Goodin was tentative in the opener, but had 11 points and four assists after the coaching staff urged him to relax.I wasnt really scared, just hesitant, Goodin said. Tonight I played loose, started having fun, and it worked out. I just played the way I did when they recruited me.A LOT OF WHISTLESThe officiating crew of John Gaffney, Brent Hampton and Alfred Smith also called 21 fouls on Xavier for 59 total. The Bulls went 13 of 21 on free throws.TOUGH AT HOMEThe Musketeers improved to 218-31 at the Cintas Center.POLL IMPLICATIONSXavier slipped from No. 7 -- the highest preseason ranking in its history -- to No. 11 in Mondays poll, based upon the Musketeers sloppy win over Lehigh. They looked much better in this one.BIG PICTUREBuffalo: Blake Hamilton, the Bulls top returning scorer and rebounder, missed most of the preseason workouts with a broken non-shooting hand. He had 11 points and eight rebounds in a 76-66 win over Niagara on Friday. Hamilton fouled out against Xavier with eight points and three rebounds.Xavier: The Musketeers had three turnovers and defensive lapses in the final 61 seconds of their win over Lehigh, so holding onto the ball was a point of emphasis. They turned it over only nine times.The biggest part with the turnovers is we just had to settle down, Gaston said.UP NEXTBuffalo: Hosts Nazareth on Thursday, the Bulls only home game out of their first nine. Their next home game is Dec. 10 against Coppin State.Xavier: Plays Missouri on Thursday in the opening round of the Tire Pros Invitational in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org Genesis Cabrera . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. Ted Simmons . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/ . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Joe Hudson . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Cheap Custom Cardinals Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Prompt Response has been agonisingly close to a stakes win a number of times and her co-trainer Adrian Bott is hoping the Twilight Glow Stakes is the race where the filly will finally break through.The three-year-old has been runner-up in four stakes races during her eight career starts, including her past two starts in Melbourne in the Listed Crockett Stakes at Moonee Valley and then the Listed Lexus Hybrid Plate at Flemington.She is the favourite for Saturdays Listed Twilight Glow Stakes (1400m) for fillies at Sandown and has drawn barrier two.Shes shown from day one shes been a stakes quality filly, Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, said.Through a bit of bad luck she hasnt been able to break through just yet but well remain confident she will. Hopefully thats tomorrow because she certainly deserves to have a stakes win next to her name because shes been so consistent and so honest and so tough.Im sure her time will come.Prompt Response, whose only win has been a dominant victory in a maiden at Newcastle at the end of her juvvenile season, stepped to 1400m for the first time last start and after drawing wide had to do a bit of work and cover ground to the home turn.ddddddddddddhe hit the front in the straight before the talented Jennifer Lynn came with a strong run down the outside from last to deny her by a short-half head.Shes quite far into her campaign now so shes fit and well and she came through that race at Flemington in great order, Bott said.Shes proven at 1400 metres which is an ideal trip for her and shes drawn favourably so hopefully she can have a bit of luck this time and can break through because shes been well and truly knocking on the door. And shes certainly good enough.The stable also has Sweet Redemption and Kimberley Star in Saturdays Group Three Summoned Stakes (1500m) for mares, with last-start Sydney winner Sweet Redemption scratched from a race at Moonee Valley on Friday night to chase a black-type win at Sandown. ' ' '