The Xavier boys basketball team let a 12-point halftime lead slip away and lost to ninth-ranked Dubuque Hempstead 51-48 in overtime Tuesday at Xavier.

The Saints led 16-10 after the first quarter and 32-20 at halftime before the Mustangs fought back with a 12-4 third-quarter run.

The score was tied 44-44 at the end of the regulation, and Hempstead took control in the overtime period to avoid the upset.

Michael Mims, had 17 points for Xavier (4-5), which was 2-of-2 from the free-throw line.

Avery Butler had 18 points for Hempstead (7-1), which shot 9-of-10 from the line.

DUBUQUE HEMPSTEAD (51): McDonough 4 0-0 11, Rindfleisch 0 0-0 0, Paulsen 2 2-2 6, R.Duax 6 1-2 16, Butler 5 6-6 18, Bitter 0 0-0 0, L.Duax 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 9-10 51.

XAVIER (48): Mims 6 0-0 17, McDermott 7 0-0 18, Burger 3 2-2 9, Ramlo 1 0-0 2, Welch 0 0-0 0, Winker 1 0-0 2, Stulken 0 0-0 0, Otting 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 2-2 48.

Halftime – Xavier 32, Dubuque Hempstead 20. End of regulation 44-44. 3-point goals – Dubuque Hempstead 8 (McDonough 3, R.Duax 3, Butler 2), Xavier 10 (Mims 5, McDermott 4, Burger).