Second-Half Turnaround Powers Xavier to NCAA Tournament Over Texas

• The Xavier Musketeers are back in the NCAA Tournament after missing out in 2024, and losing in the first round of the NIT.
• They were in trouble after a poor first half against Texas, but the Musketeers rallied for an 86-80 win over the Longhorns in their First Four matchup on Wednesday night in Dayton, Ohio.
• The Musketeers are now a #11 seed in the Midwest Region, and will take on #6 Illinois on Friday night in the round of 64.

The round of 64 is finally set for the NCAA Tournament. First Four games on Tuesday gave North Carolina and Alabama State their pass into the field.

On Wednesday, Mount St. Mary’s beat American University to book their spot in the Tournament. Meanwhile, Xavier had to claw hard and dig deep for a big win over Texas.

Xavier Outscores Texas 47-33 in the Second Half

It was looking shaky for the Musketeers, who are based in Cincinnati, which is about an hour’s drive from Dayton. You would think that would give Xavier the edge, but it was Texas who came out hot in the first half and dominated the Musketeers.

But Xavier stepped up at both ends of the floor in the second, beating the Longhorns by 14 in the second half to win 86-80. Marcus Foster was 8-of-9 from the floor, including 4-of-5 from three-point land, for 22 points and eight rebounds. Zach Freemantle was next with 15 points, while Ryan Conwell and Dailyn Swain added 11 each for the Musketeers.

Texas got 23 points from Tre Johnson, and Tramon Mark had 16 for the Longhorns. It was likely the last game at Texas for Johnson, who is projected as a top-five pick in the NBA Draft in June.

This was also revenge for the Musketeers, who lost to Texas in the Sweet 16 in 2023 as a #3 seed, while the Longhorns were a #2 seed.

Can Xavier Make a Deep March Madness Run?

March Madness odds have Xavier as a slight underdog in their round of 64 meeting with Illinois, but it’s a winnable game for the Musketeers. They didn’t even make the NCAA Tournament in 2024, and perhaps even worse, lost in the first round of the NIT Tournament.

But if you’re looking to make some March Madness underdog bets, have a strong look at Xavier on Friday. They had won seven in a row before losing to Marquette in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament, and they’re a balanced team at both ends of the floor.

The Musketeers will have to avoid foul trouble against the Fighting Illini, as Conwell and Fremantle struggled with that against Texas. If they can stay on the floor, they have a definite shot against Illinois.

As far as March Madness Cinderella teams go, Xavier has some recent history with this. In 2017, the Muskateers were a #11 seed, and defeated #6 Maryland (another Big Ten school, like Illinois), #2 Florida State, and #2 Arizona. Coincidentally, the Wildcats were coached by Sean Miller, who left Xavier for Arizona in 2009.

Miller would return to Xavier in 2022, and has guided the Muskateers back to the NCAA Tournament. The 2017 Xavier run would end in the Elite Eight, where they lost to #1 seed and eventual finalist Gonzaga.