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Xavier Rallies Past Texas, Advances to NCAA Tournament First Round
By
Musketeer Madness,
3/20/2025
Xavier stormed back from an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat Texas 86-80 in the NCAA Tournament First Four on Tuesday night at University of Dayton Arena. The Musketeers used a dominant second-half performance to punch their ticket to the First Round, where they will face No. 6 Illinois on Friday, March 21, in Milwaukee. Tip-off is set for 9:45 p.m. ET at Fiserv Forum, with national coverage on CBS.
Trailing 47-39 at the break, Xavier found its rhythm in the second half, outscoring the Longhorns 47-33. Marcus Foster led the way with a game-high 22 points on an efficient 8-for-9 shooting, including four three-pointers. His scoring outburst helped ignite a Musketeers offense that shot a scorching 55.2% from the field for the game.
Zach Freemantle was a key contributor in the paint, adding 15 points while hitting 6-of-13 shots. He also nailed a clutch three-pointer that put Xavier ahead late in the second half. Dailyn Swain and Ryan Conwell chipped in 11 points apiece, while Jerome Hunter and Dante Maddox Jr. provided key scoring off the bench.
Texas controlled much of the first half behind the play of Tre Johnson, who led all scorers with 23 points. The Longhorns shot 58.1% from the field in the opening 20 minutes and built their lead to as much as 13 points. However, their offense stalled in the second half, managing just 37.5% shooting after halftime.
A critical sequence midway through the second half turned the tide in Xavier’s favor. After Foster drilled a three to cut the deficit to five, Swain forced a steal and finished in transition. On the next possession, Conwell drained another triple, tying the game at 65-65 with 8:10 to play.
From there, the Musketeers never looked back. A 10-3 run, capped by a Freemantle jumper, gave Xavier a 75-70 lead with just under five minutes remaining. Texas responded with a pair of free throws from Kadin Shedrick and a Johnson three-pointer, but Foster answered with a driving layup to maintain control.
The Musketeers sealed the game from the free-throw line, converting late attempts to keep the Longhorns at bay. Texas had a final chance to tie the game with under 30 seconds left, but Johnson’s contested three-pointer rimmed out, and Xavier secured the rebound to close out the victory.
Xavier’s defense tightened when it mattered most, forcing Texas into costly turnovers in the final minutes. The Musketeers capitalized on Longhorn mistakes, scoring 16 points off turnovers compared to Texas’ seven. Their fast-break attack also proved crucial, outscoring Texas 17-7 in transition.
With the win, Xavier improved to 22-11 on the season and earned a matchup with a tough Illinois squad in Milwaukee. The Musketeers will look to carry their second-half momentum into Friday’s contest as they aim for a deeper run in March Madness.
Texas, which finished the season 19-16, was led by Johnson’s 23 points and Tramon Mark’s 16. Shedrick added 11 points and seven rebounds, but the Longhorns struggled down the stretch against Xavier’s relentless defensive pressure.
The Musketeers’ ability to battle through adversity and execute in crunch time showcased the depth and resilience that could make them a dangerous opponent in the tournament’s next round. With their offense clicking and defense stepping up, Xavier heads into Milwaukee with confidence and momentum having won 8 of its last 9 games.
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