Xavier Surges Past Texas 86-80 in NCAA Tournament First Four

In a thrilling NCAA Tournament First Four matchup, Xavier rallied from a 13-point deficit to defeat Texas 86-80, marking their biggest comeback of the season. Tre Johnson led Texas with 23 points, but the Longhorns struggled offensively in the closing minutes, scoring only two points as Xavier capitalized on their momentum. Key players for Xavier included Marcus Foster with 22 points and Zach Freemantle, who overcame foul trouble to contribute 15 points. The win allowed Xavier to advance to face No. 6 seed Illinois in the next round of the tournament. Texas' season ends with questions surrounding head coach Rodney Terry's future, as they finished with a record of 19-16. This match highlighted Texas' strong first half performance but ultimately underscored their inability to maintain control against a determined Xavier team in front of a pro-Musketeer crowd.