Texas Longhorns Eliminated by Xavier 86-80 in NCAA Tournament

The Texas Longhorns' NCAA Tournament hopes were dashed as they lost to the Xavier Musketeers 86-80 in the First Four, concluding their season with a 19-16 record. Texas initially led at halftime 47-39 but struggled in the second half, allowing Xavier to rally back and take control of the game. Freshman standout Tre Johnson led Texas with 23 points, but missed critical free throws late in the game, contributing to the loss. The defeat raises questions about the future of head coach Rodney Terry, with speculation about a coaching change in the offseason. Xavier's Marcus Foster shone with a career-high 22 points, helping his team overcome a 13-point deficit. This loss marks the end of a challenging season for Texas, which faced scrutiny for its selection in the tournament despite a lackluster regular season record.