AUSTIN, Texas – But for an uncalled blocking foul here, a missed free throw there, Xavier might still be playing in a basketball tournament somewhere.
But the coulda, woulda, shoulda season ended for the 19-16 Musketeers Sunday night with a 78-76 overtime loss to Texas in the second round of the NIT.
Down by one, Xavier could have won in regulation when Quentin Goodin got his defender in the air to get to the free-throw line with 2.7 seconds left. But Goodin missed 1 of 2 free throws, and Zach Hankins’ put-back attempt at the buzzer was blocked by Jericho Sims.
The Musketeers could have forced a second overtime after Texas’ Kerwin Roach II missed 3 of 4 free throws in the last 22 seconds. Down by two, Xavier had good looks at tying it, but Tyrique Jones’ put-back attempt and Naji Marshall’s layup rolled off.
Jones might have been star of the game if his final shot had gone in. He missed only two all night, scoring a career-high 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting and grabbing 11 rebounds. Marshall added 19 points and eight rebounds. Goodin had 14 points.
Roach had 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists to lead Texas (18-16). Courtney Ramey and Jase Febres each added 17 points, and Sims had 11 points and seven rebounds.
Roach was 7 of 15 at the line as Texas made just 15 of 25, but the Longhorns sank 11 of 24 3-pointers — with five from Febres.
Former Moeller star Jaxson Hayes, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year for Texas, missed Sunday’s game due to injury. The 6-11 Hayes bruised a bone in his left knee during the Big 12 Tournament and won't be able to play for several weeks.
Hayes averaged 10.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and a team-high 2.3 blocks in 31 games.
