Basham hammered in a right-foot shot after seven minutes after Andrew Burgess set him up six yards out.

Barry Quinn spurned the chance to double the lead as he put his first-half penalty wide.

Jon Challinor worked hard for Exeter but he failed to cause any serious worries for home keeper Billy Turley despite a series of long-range efforts.

Oxford Utd: Turley, Willmott, Quinn, Day, Anaclet, Pettefer, Hutchinson (Dempster 45), Burgess, Brevett, Basham (Odubade 68), Robinson.
Subs Not Used: Tardif, Kennet, Gunn.

Goals: Basham 7.

Exeter: Rice, Woodards, Edwards, Todd (Richardson 27), Billy Jones, Challinor, Cozic, Gill, Moxey (Taylor 68), Phillips, Stansfield (Mackie 72).
Subs Not Used: Paul Jones, Buckle.

Booked: Todd.

Att: 6,083

Ref: S Beck (Essex).