CINCINNATI - Bruce Weber thought he was doing a nice thing by giving the Illini basketball team four days off over Christmas. If he could, he'd be in line this morning trying to exchange the gift.

"We played like we practiced," Weber lamented Friday night, moments after Illinois turned in arguably its worst game of the season in a 65-59 loss to Xavier in front of 13,256 fans at U.S. Bank Arena.

"I have never given four days off at Christmas, but we've been so boogered up I thought it would be good for us," Weber said. "But I don't think I'll ever do it again."

Weber's disappointment was a direct reflection in the way his team practiced once returning to campus from Christmas break. And even Jamar Smith, who threw in four 3-pointers in the final two minutes to prevent a more lopsided result, agreed.

"I think so, because we had four days off and coach told everyone to get a day in the gym," he said. "But I don't think hardly anyone went to the gym at all. It showed when we got back for practice because everyone was real sluggish."

So sluggish that Illinois fell into a 14-2 hole to start the game. Then, after battling back to take a 26-25 halftime lead, the Illini went flat in the second half, turning the ball over, failing to secure rebounds and fouling up a storm as Xavier ignited the crowd and recaptured the momentum.

Xavier outscored Illinois 16-5 to start the second half, building a 41-31 lead.

Illinois closed Xavier's lead to 46-40 with 6:39 to play, then had one miscue after another while trying to pull off its second big rally of the night.

Weber could easily recount the mistakes.

In a succession of plays, there was a turnover by Chester Frazier, a charge by Trent Meacham, a travel on a fast break by Brian Randle and a missed basket on Meacham's alley-oop pass to Randle in traffic.

And all the while, Illinois kept fouling and sending Xavier to the free-throw line.

"We turned it over and didn't get shots for like four possessions in a row," Weber said.

Illinois committed 17 turnovers and was outrebounded 20-10 in the second half.

"Turnovers and free throws. When we have lost, that is what has plagued us," Weber said. "Look at the Arizona game and this one."

Against Xavier, Illinois was 5-of-8 from the free-throw line while the Musketeers hit 26-of-36. And against Arizona, Illinois was 5-of-9 while the Wildcats were 26-of-37. Combined, that's 10-for-17 compared to 52-of-73. And Weber made it clear he wasn't complaining about the calls.

"We fade away too much," he said. "We don't go to the basket. They were the aggressor and that's what usually happens, especially when you get the crowd into it."

The start of the game was eerily reminiscent of last year's Illinois-Xavier encounter at the United Center in Chicago. In that one, Xavier sped to a 19-4 advantage and Illinois looked hopelessly trapped in a hole.

This time, Illinois fell behind 14-2 and was still down 18-6 when Xavier's Derrick Brown dunked on a fast break with 12:35 minutes to go in the half.

But that's when the demeanor of each team changed. Illinois turned up the juice defensively and on the boards. And Xavier began alternately taking poor shots or forgetting to shoot altogether as the shot clock melted away. As a result, Illinois began climbing back into the hunt.

The Musketeers led 21-13 when Shaun Pruitt muscled in a shot from under the basket and when Warren Carter hit two free throws with 6:44 to go, Xavier's lead was down to 21-17.

Another Pruitt basket followed to bring the Illini to within two. After Xavier's Drew Lavender hit two free throws with 5:08 to go in the half, Carter drilled an 18-foot jumper and scored again in the lane to tie the game 23-23 with 3:01 to go.

And Illinois took its first lead of the half when Meacham took a pass from Carter and buried a 3-pointer to make it 26-23 with 2:01 to go.

Illinois led at the half 26-25 after Xavier managed exactly one basket for the final 12:35 minutes of the half, missing 13 of 14 shots during that stretch.

Illinois held a 22-15 edge on the boards at halftime with Pruitt grabbing nine of those.

Lavender led Xavier (9-4) with 17 points, including nine free throws, and Justin Doellman added 15. Smith's late surge gave him 16 for the Illini (12-3). Carter added 14 but had five turnovers, and Pruitt had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

But starting point guard Chester Frazier picked up two fouls in the game's first 81 seconds and ended up playing what Weber called his worst game of the season, finishing scoreless in 13 minutes.

Illinois finished non-conference play on a down note and now must gear up for the Big Ten season, which begins Wednesday with a trip to Michigan. The home opener is Saturday, Jan. 6 vs. Ohio State.