Marcus Foster scored 22 points and Zach Freemantle added 15 while overcoming foul trouble as Xavier rallied past Texas, 86-80, in the First Four at Dayton, Ohio on Wednesday night.
The Musketeers (22-11) erased a 13-point deficit in their biggest comeback win this season and advanced to play No. 6 seed Illinois on Friday night in a Midwest Region game at Milwaukee.
Tre Johnson led the Longhorns with 23 points in an NCAA Tournament matchup of No. 11 seeds.
Freemantle made two free throws to give Xavier an 82-79 lead with 1:09 left. Johnson missed a fadeaway jumper, and Dailyn Swain’s putback of Freemantle’s missed 3-pointer extended the margin to 5. Freemantle’s dunk sealed the win.
The Longhorns (19-16) took advantage of early foul trouble for Xavier and got to the rim at will in the first half, scoring 26 of 47 points in the paint.
Freemantle, who averaged 19.8 points during the Musketeers’ seven-game winning streak to close the regular season, had 2 points and two fouls in the first half. He picked up his fourth foul with 7:10 left.
Texas led at halftime, 47-39. It was the first time Xavier trailed at halftime since a loss at Creighton on Jan. 29.
Jerome Hunter’s 3-pointer tied the score at 65 with eight minutes left.
A 3-pointer by Oklahoma transfer John Hugley put the Musketeers ahead, 75-74, with 5:07 remaining.
It was the fourth time since 1990 the teams met in the NCAA Tournament, with each school winning twice.
Mount St. Mary’s advances
Dola Adebayo and Jedy Cordilla each scored 22 points as Mount St. Mary’s defeated American University, 83-72, in an NCAA Tournament matchup of No. 16 seeds at the First Four at Dayton, Ohio.
The Mountaineers (23-12) earned a date with No. 1 seed Duke on Friday in an East Region game at Raleigh, N.C.
“Today when we walked out there for the national anthem, it was a little bit of a holy cow moment for me,’’ Mountaineers coach Donny Lind said. “Now to get to move on with this group and let them keep playing and to go down to Raleigh and play Duke is awesome. We’ve got to get ready and give them everything we’ve got.’’
Geoff Sprouse led American (22-13) with 18 points on six 3-pointers off the bench. Elijah Stephens scored 12.
American leading scorer Matt Rogers injured his right knee four minutes into the game.
Rogers attempted to play through the pain, but with 5:28 remaining in the first half he fell to the court, was helped off and did not return. Rogers, who averages 17 points per game, finished with 7 points in eight minutes.
He watched the second half from the bench on crutches.
“Yeah, I feel terrible for him,’’ Lind said. “His versatility really stood out, and his will. He plays really, really hard. He’s emotional in a great way for their team.’’
Both teams were shooting better than 60 percent and went a combined 8 of 19 from 3-point range through the first 10 minutes. Dallas Hobbs beat the buzzer with a three to put Mount St. Mary’s ahead at halftime, 48-38.
Hobbs finished with 17 points.
“I was nervous,’’ Hobbs said. “It’s safe to say this was the biggest game I’ve played in my life.’’
Mount St. Mary’s was missing leading 3-point shooter Carmelo Pacheco, who hasn’t played since breaking a finger in the regular-season finale.
But the Mountaineers stayed hot from long range in the second half. Malcolm Dread’s 3-pointer put them ahead, 64-51, with 11:26 left.
Mount St. Mary’s improved to 3-6 in the NCAA Tournament. Up next, the ACC champion Blue Devils.
