DAYTON, Ohio -- The Atlantic 10 Conference tournament will be at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati in 2005 and 2006 after a two-year run at the University of Dayton Arena.

Xavier, located in Cincinnati, doesn't play its home games at U.S. Bank Arena. Conference USA currently is playing its tournament at U.S. Bank Arena.

"We had several bids and we got a great proposal from U.S. Bank Arena," said Ray Cella, assistant commissioner of the A-10. "We wanted to try a different place."

The tournament has been a financial success in Dayton, where 9,183 attended the afternoon doubleheader yesterday.

"The tournament is financially driven," Duquesne athletic director Brian Colleary said.

"We made considerably more money in Dayton and we'll make considerably more money in Cincinnati than we did in Philadelphia."

Although there were three teams from Philadelphia in the field, the tournament didn't capture the imagination of the local fans when it was held there before moving to Dayton.

Dayton won the championship last season playing on its home court.

"They have a competitive advantage," Colleary said. "Maybe too much."

Colleary said Mellon Arena has no plans in the immediate future to put in a bid to bring the tournament to Pittsburgh.

"It would have to be a joint project, a unified undertaking by the whole city," Colleary said.

Bonnies penalty

St. Bonaventure, which lost to Xavier in the first round, was ineligible to participate in the NCAA tournament even if the Bonnies had won the championship.

They are on NCAA probation for using an ineligible player last season.

Slam dunks

Rhode Island, which led, 26-21, at halftime en route to a 55-42 victory against LaSalle, is 15-2 when leading at intermission. ... Xavier (20-10) has won 20 or more games the past eight seasons. ... St. Bonaventure was 0-15 away from Reilly Center this season. ... St. Bonaventure's 34 3-point attempts in the 90-64 loss to Xavier was the third most in an A-10 tournament game.

No TV

Duquesne's quarterfinal at 7 p.m. tonight won't be televised in Pittsburgh because Fox Sports Net is committed to carrying the Penguins' game. The A-10 network will broadcast the game between Dayton and the Dukes.