DAYTON, Ohio – The comeback. The dunk. The eruption. The victory. And then the chants that echoed throughout one of college basketball’s great venues late Wednesday night: Let’s go X! Let’s go X! It was goose-bumps special, perhaps one of the most memorable nights in Xavier University’s storied basketball history. The beauty of the NCAA Tournament was on full display at packed UD Arena.
Zach Freemantle, of all people, put the exclamation point on Xavier’s 86-80 win over Texas in front of a Musketeer-friendly crowd of 12,546. The sixth-year forward – who had to overcome three foot surgeries and a coaching change before finally getting to play in the NCAA Tournament – let it all out with an emphatic two-handed dunk with one second left. He hung on the rim, unleashing the joy and relief for a team that had been buried in a double-digit hole. The crowd got so loud you almost needed to plug your ears.
It was March Madness kind of madness, as thousands of the Xavier fans who made the short drive up I-75 hung around and celebrated. Coach Sean Miller walked off the court with both arms held above his head, fists clenched as he looked up in the stands. "That was one of the greatest games I’ve ever been a part of," said Miller, who has now taken the Musketeers to the NCAA Tournament twice since his return to the program three seasons ago.
“It felt like a home game,” Xavier guard Marcus Foster said, encapsulating the energy of the night. The Musketeers overcame a 13-point deficit against a rugged SEC team, exemplifying their resilience. It feels like they’ve been forging ahead against the odds for weeks now.
From Freemantle’s knee injury in December to the team's early struggles, which saw Xavier lose four of their first five Big East games, the Musketeers found themselves in must-win mode by mid-February. Yet, they kept responding, claiming seven straight victories to close out the regular season and securing a spot as an No. 11 seed in the tournament. But getting in was just the first step.
“Resilience... It’s the badge of this team. Right when you think you count us out, we win,” Miller reflected, illustrating the fighting spirit embedded in this squad.
Earlier in the game, it seemed as though Dayton might mark the end of the line for the Musketeers. The Longhorns easily accessed the basket, with Texas scoring 26 of their 47 first-half points on layups and dunks. These struggles forced Xavier to dig deep and display resilience they hadn’t needed for much of the season.
Down eight points at halftime marked a stark realization; this was the first time they'd trailed at half since that disheartening loss to Creighton back in January. Yet, there was no panic amongst this experienced group. Freemantle finally found his rhythm, hitting a turnaround shot with 8:39 left in the game to pull Xavier within three points. Miller energized the crowd, waving his arms encouragingly as the arena erupted once more.
Texas's Arthur Kaluma gave the Musketeers a break, losing control of the ball and dribbling it out-of-bounds on the Longhorns' next possession. That mistake was met with louder cheers, fuelling momentum further. Jerome Hunter seized the moment, draining a critical 3-pointer from the corner to tie the game at 65. The crowd went into a frenzy, embodying the very heart of March Madness.
With just 5:07 left, Big John Hugley IV shocked everyone by hitting a 3-pointer, granting Xavier a 75-74 lead—their first since early in the first half. Hugley, an Oklahoma transfer, had only attempted 16 three-pointers all season; his success was massive for Xavier. Meanwhile, Foster showcased his best performance since joining Xavier, scoring a team-high 22 points. Foster had managed a total of just 22 points across his past five games, making this eruption even sweeter for him.
The exhilarating run in the NCAA Tournament continues as the Musketeers prepare to face off against Illinois, aiming to build upon this pivotal victory. The journey from struggles to triumph speaks volumes about their tenacity and commitment. They have certainly made a case for their potential deep run in the tournament.
This thrilling victory not only serves as a testament to their resolve but also reinvigorates their supporters, who are eagerly awaiting the next matchup. If this game is indicative of their momentum, who knows how far Xavier Basketball might go?
