ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Despite a late second-half charge by Saint Louis, Xavier topped the Billikens 71-64 Saturday in a semifinal matchup at the 2012 Atlantic 10 Conference Championship at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

The Billikens, bolstered by a 25-7 record and a second-place finish in the A-10, will gather as a team on Selection Sunday as the 68-team NCAA Tournament is announced.

Xavier (21-11) advances to face St. Bonaventure tomorrow in the A-10 title game.

Saint Louis trailed by 14 early in the second half and by 10 with 10:46 to go in the contest before a rally made it a game late. Trailing by 10, SLU went on a 7-0 run sparked by a Cody Ellis trey to bring it within three. Later, a Dwayne Evans tip-in made it a one-point contest at 50-49 with 7:38 remaining.

The squads later traded baskets, and a pair of Jordair Jett free throws cut the Xavier lead to just two at 60-58 with under two minutes to play. That is when Mark Lyons drilled a 3-pointer as the shot clock was winding down. Later, Ellis answered with a three to pull the Bills within striking distance at 65-62 with a minute left, but the Bills couldn't get any closer as Xavier hit its free throws down the stretch.

SLU put five players in double figures, led by Brian Conklin's 14 points. Evans had 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while Jett had 11 points. Kwamain Mitchell began the game with a pair of treys as SLU opened up a 6-0 lead and finished with 10 points. Ellis also chipped in 10 points for the Billikens.

Xavier, which was led by Tu Holloway's 21 points, shot a sizzling 53.3 percent from the field, including a 65 percent mark in the second half.