Early in the second half, third seeded-Xavier found itself staring down the narrow tunnel of a double-digit deficit. Good thing they had the hero of "The Great Escape" on their bench. Well, not quite -- the Musketeers didn't exactly have Steve McQueen leading them to second-round freedom, but they did have Charles Bronson their side.

While 6-foot-9, 232 pound junior center Charles Bronson may not look much like Hollywood's ultimate tough guy, he has more of a fan following in the Xavier locker room than the rugged 1960s action film star.

"Yes I'm a fan of Charles Bronson -- I am a fan of all my teammates," said freshman forward Joe Hughes, who said he's never even heard of the old Magnificent Seven member. "I haven't seen any of those movies."

"I have no idea who that is," said first-year guard Stephen Duckett, when asked about the "other" Charles Bronson. "What are some of his movies?"

Even Bronson -- who has been relegated to the bench most of the season after transferring from Redlands (TX) Community College -- said he wasn't too familiar with the man who shares his name.

"I know who he is," said the fourth Musketeer (Bronson wears number four), who lists Deathwish as his favorite Bronson flick. "I'm a little bit of a fan of his."

Turns out Xavier's Bronson has a little more McQueen in him. While he has the same quiet, confident voice as the Tunnel King, when asked in the team media guide for an adjective to describe his game, the former top 75 recruit listed "smooth."

So not-Bronson. He was rough as bad guy Harmonica in "Once Upon a Time in the West" and tough as gritty Detective Lou Torrey in "The Stone Killer," but Bronson was never "smooth."

Despite the lack of "Love and Bullets" fans on the Xavier roster, basketball's Bronson says he gets his fair share of grief on the court.

"I get a lot of jokes and stuff about it," said Bronson, whose nickname is a very unBronsonesque "Lucky." "People talk to me about, "Oh, your name is so tough, how come your game isn't?"

From here on out, and until the Musketeers are ousted from the Big Dance, Bronson and his boys are to be known as "The Dirty Dozen."

- Harlan Goode