27-03-2025
Reactions: Xavier tops Texas to reach Round of 64 showdown with Illinois
Reactions: Xavier tops Texas to reach Round of 64 showdown with Illinois
The Xavier Musketeers trailed the Texas Longhorns by 13 points in their NCAA tournament First Four game Wednesday in Dayton, and dealt with foul trouble all night for leading scorers Zach Freemantle and Ryan Conwell.
But 11th-seeded XU outscored the Longhorns 47-33 in the second half, made 12-of-25 from 3-point range and got a season-high 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting from Marcus Foster to rally past Texas, 86-80, to advance to a Friday night matchup with No. 6 Illinois in Milwaukee.
"They're hot, man," former Villanova head coach Jay Wright said during TruTV's "Inside March Madness" studio show after the game. "They could make a run. They could really make a run."
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The Musketeers avenged a Sweet 16 loss in 2023 to Texas. It was the fourth time the two teams have met in the NCAA tournament.
The Xavier bench celebrates against Texas during the First Four
Social media reactions to the Muskies' First Four win:
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reactions: Xavier comeback topples Texas in First Four; Illinois next
