In Dayton, Ohio, Xavier University’s basketball team pulled off a remarkable comeback against Texas, winning 86-80 during the First Four on Wednesday evening. Marcus Foster led the charge with 22 points, and Zach Freemantle added 15 despite being hampered by foul trouble. This victory allowed the Musketeers (22-11) to overcome a 13-point deficit, marking their largest comeback this season. Consequently, they secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament’s main bracket to face the 6th-seed Illinois on Friday night in Milwaukee’s Midwest Region.
Coach Sean Miller expressed immense pride in his team after the game. “That’s one of the greatest games I’ve ever been a part of,” he said. He commended Texas for being a formidable opponent, recognizing their discipline, depth, and talent. “We knew it was going to be a great challenge to beat a really good team from the SEC. I’m really proud of our team,” Miller added.
Texas, with a record of 19-16, saw Tre Johnson leading their offense with 23 points, while Tramon Mark contributed 16. With 1:48 remaining, Freemantle’s turnaround jumper broke a deadlock, pushing the score to 80-78. His subsequent free throws further extended Xavier’s lead to 82-79 with just over a minute left. Johnson missed a crucial fadeaway jumper, and Dailyn Swain capitalized on Freemantle’s missed three-pointer, putting the Musketeers ahead by five with only 20 seconds remaining. Although Chendall Weaver managed to score one of two free throws for Texas, Freemantle’s subsequent dunk sealed the game for Xavier. They finished with an impressive 16-6 run over the final minutes.
Freemantle, who joined the team in 2019, reflected on the significance of this moment, particularly as he returned from an injury that sidelined him last season. “Storybook, maybe not,” he commented. “Obviously, we would have liked to win by a little more. But any win we can get is a great thing. It was a very hard-fought game. That’s a very good team we just played, and I’m just thankful to be a part of it.”
Foster put up impressive numbers, shooting 8 for 9 from the field, including 4 of 5 from beyond the arc, and grabbing eight rebounds. Freemantle had a quieter first half with just two points and two fouls, picking up his fourth foul with 7:10 remaining in the game. Texas held a 47-39 advantage at halftime, marking the first time Xavier had been behind at halftime since their January 29th loss to Creighton.
Texas coach Rodney Terry acknowledged the strong first half performance by his team. “I thought we had one of our better first halves of the year,” he stated. “Give them credit. They made big plays, big shots, and finished the game down the stretch.” Despite trailing by 13 in the first half and still ten early in the second, Xavier’s Jerome Hunter tied the game with a three-pointer with eight minutes remaining. Oklahoma transfer John Hugley further fueled the offense, putting the Musketeers in front 75-74 with just over five minutes left.
This matchup marked the fourth occasion since 1990 where Xavier and Texas have clashed in the NCAA Tournament, each school having claimed two victories. The Longhorns capitalized early on Xavier’s foul troubles by focusing their offense in the paint, scoring 26 of their 47 first-half points inside. However, Xavier tightened its defense in the latter half, limiting Texas to just 10 points in the paint.
Reflecting on this shift, Foster said, “I would just say our defensive intensity, getting more deflections. When we get deflections, it’s hard to beat us. So we really just locked in on that.” He emphasized the minimal issues the team experienced on offense compared to defense, noting that once their focus on defense improved, the game momentum shifted in their favor.
Playing at the University of Dayton Arena also provided a home-court advantage for Xavier, being a mere hour away from their campus. This resulted in a supportive Musketeers crowd. The concurrent NIT game featuring Dayton allowed Xavier fans the opportunity to grab additional seats. “Our fans certainly took advantage of the proximity to Cincinnati,” Miller remarked, acknowledging the crucial role fans played in elevating the team’s performance when needed.
Despite Texas’s control for much of the game, the Musketeers’ late rally brought the crowd to life. Texas coach Rodney Terry jokingly wished there were more Dayton fans present than those supporting Xavier. Nonetheless, it was the Musketeers’ night to shine as they advanced in high spirits.
