DAYTON, Ohio — In an adrenaline-fueled showdown on March 19, 2025, the Texas Longhorns fell short against the Xavier Musketeers, suffering an 86-80 defeat at the First Four round of the NCAA Tournament. The game, held at UD Arena in Dayton, was marked by a raucous crowd of Xavier supporters rallying behind their team as they fought back to claim victory.
Texas, under head coach Rodney Terry, initially controlled the game, showcasing an impressive performance in the first half. Jumping to an early lead and maintaining momentum, the Longhorns looked set for success. Guard Tre Johnson led Texas with a remarkable 22 points, including making a significant impact with three-pointers. At halftime, Texas held a slim edge of 47-39, largely thanks to its strong shooting—58.1% from the floor and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc.
The first half saw a solid showing from both teams, with Texas opening the game strong. Early on, they established a 30-21 lead following a 9-0 run, showcasing their offensive prowess. However, as the game wore on, Xavier’s resilience began to emerge, and they drew close with a series of effective plays before halftime. With Tre Johnson and Tramon Mark combining for 19 points, Texas seemed poised to continue its dominance.
As the second half began, however, momentum shifted dramatically. Xavier, motivated by a home crowd advantage being just 55 miles away from Cincinnati, quickly narrowed the gap. At 10:37 into the second half, a 7-3 run saw Xavier trailing by only four points at 50-46. Despite Texas’s best efforts to hold the lead, the Musketeers tied the game at 65 with around eight minutes remaining, marking a crucial moment in the match.
Xavier’s Zach Freemantle, who has averaged 17.3 points per game this season, demonstrated clutch performance, scoring critical baskets down the stretch. In a thrilling turn of events, the Musketeers took their first lead since early in the game after a long-range three-pointer from John Hugley IV. This unforeseen shift in pressure seemed to stun the Longhorns, who had enjoyed a steady performance previously.
With the game winding down, Tre Johnson responded valiantly to keep Texas in the hunt, bringing his total to 22 points. Yet, Xavier capitalized on their soaring confidence, outscoring Texas by a remarkable 47-33 in the second half. The thrilling back-and-forth action captivated the crowd and created an electric atmosphere as Xavier pulled ahead to seal their advance in the tournament.
This loss marks the end of Texas’s season, concluding with a record of 19-16. Meanwhile, Xavier is set to face Illinois in the first round on March 21, 2025, with hopes of continuing their winning streak into the later stages of the tournament.
