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Borovicanin Beats the Buzzer as X Slips Past DePaul, 68–66
By
Musketeer Madness,
1/31/2026
Filip Borovicanin delivered the final blow at the horn, lifting Xavier to a dramatic 68–66 victory over DePaul on Saturday afternoon at the Cintas Center. Borovicanin’s pull-up jumper as time expired capped a tense back-and-forth finish and sent the Musketeer crowd of 9,596 into celebration as Xavier earned a hard-fought Big East win.
Xavier trailed 35–30 at halftime after a sluggish opening 20 minutes, but the Musketeers responded with improved ball movement and defensive pressure in the second half. Xavier shot 54.5 percent after the break and leaned heavily on free throws late, going 13-of-14 in the second half to keep pace as DePaul mounted multiple comeback attempts.
Tre Carroll led Xavier with 21 points, attacking the rim throughout the game while adding six rebounds and two blocks. Borovicanin followed with 16 points and six rebounds, consistently scoring in the paint and drawing fouls before delivering the game’s defining moment. Malik Messina-Moore added 13 points, knocking down three three-pointers and providing timely offense during key stretches.
Xavier appeared in control midway through the second half after building an 18-point lead, but DePaul refused to fold. CJ Gunn scored a game-high 19 points for the Blue Demons, while N.J. Benson added 14 points and eight rebounds as DePaul slowly chipped away at the deficit. A late fast-break three tied the game at 66–66 in the final seconds, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
With the clock winding down and the game tied, Xavier put the ball in Borovicanin’s hands. The sophomore calmly rose from inside the arc and knocked down the buzzer-beating jumper, sealing the Musketeers’ second-half comeback and denying DePaul a chance at overtime.
The win pushed Xavier to 12–10 overall and 4–7 in Big East play, a result that showcased both resilience and late-game composure to come from behind. Next up for Xavier is UConn as it travels to Hartford on Tuesday night. Game time is set for 7:00pm.
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