Xavier University men’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA tournament after defeating No. 6 seed Texas 86-82 in a thrilling game at UD Arena on Wednesday night. The Musketeers, led by guard Marcus Foster, overcame a strong Texas team and made the most of their raucous home crowd.
The First Four was not an advantage for Xavier, as coach Sean Miller described it as a “logistical scramble” that requires extra preparation before the main tournament. However, the atmosphere at UD Arena played a significant role in the win. Foster, who scored a season-high 22 points, including 16 in the second half, stepped up to help his team overcome foul trouble from teammates Zach Freemantle and Ryan Conwell.
Xavier trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half but rallied with a 13-3 run that drew them even. The Musketeers then took their first lead since the first half on a John Hugley IV three-pointer with five minutes left to play. Coach Miller praised his team’s resilience, saying they didn’t wear down like they typically do against faster and deeper opponents.
The win marked one of the greatest games coach Miller has been part of, and Xavier will now face No. 6 seed Illinois in the Midwest Region on Friday night in Milwaukee. Foster emphasized the importance of maintaining confidence despite the intimidating crowd, saying, “We’ve got to be a mature ballclub and understand that just because the fans get loud and rowdy, we can’t let that affect our confidence.”
Xavier will look to continue its momentum against Illinois, while Texas coach Rodney Terry faces uncertainty about his job status after a second consecutive early tournament exit.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/44323818/xavier-rallies-texas-first-four-game-ncaa-tournament