The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
18-16
Xavier
19-16
| Team | 1 | 2 | OT 1 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xavier | 32 | 38 | 6 | 76 |
| Texas | 38 | 32 | 8 | 78 |
Men's Basketball tops Xavier in OT, 78-76
03.24.2019 | Men's Basketball
Senior guard Kerwin Roach II led the Longhorns with a team-high 21 points.
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AUSTIN, Texas — Senior guard Kerwin Roach II scored a team-high 21 points to lead The University of Texas Men's Basketball team (18-16) to a 78-76 overtime victory over Xavier (19-16) in the Second Round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) on Sunday afternoon at the Frank Erwin Center.
Roach converted 6-of-13 from the field, including 2-of-2 from three-point range, while adding 8 rebounds and 6 assists in 36 minutes. Sophomore guard Jase Febres tallied 17 points, hitting 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, while freshman guard Courtney Ramey recorded 17 points and a career-high 8 rebounds. Sophomore forward Jericho Sims also added 11 points and 7 rebounds in 25 minutes.
Sims threw down dunks on consecutive possessions, as Texas grabbed a three-point margin (25-22) at the 5:33 mark. Roach scored five straight points to give UT its largest lead (38-30) with 42 seconds left in the half. However, Xavier's Quentin Goodin hit a jumper with one second left to trim the advantage to six (38-32) at the break.
The Musketeers began the second half with a 7-0 spurt to grab a one-point lead (39-38) at the 18:43 mark. Texas responded with a 7-0 run, including three-pointers from Febres and Coleman, to take a three-point lead (50-47) at the 12:24 mark.
Xavier's Goodin tied the game at 65-65 with a three-pointer at the 3:00 mark, but Febres countered with his fifth 3-pointer of the contest to put the Longhorns ahead by three (68-65) with 2:42 remaining.
Xavier's Tyrique Jones connected on a jumper with 44 seconds left to make it a one-point game (70-69). Goodin was fouled with 2 seconds left, but only hit one-of-two free throws to send the game to overtime.
UT took a four-point lead (77-73) with 2:37 remaining after a Ramey three-pointer and a pair of free throws by Sims. Xavier cut the lead to one (77-76) after a Jones free throw with 50 seconds left.
Roach hit a free throw to give Texas a two-point cushion (78-76) with 20 seconds left. The Musketeers missed three shot opportunities in the final four seconds.
With the victory, the Longhorns advance to the NIT quarterfinals. Texas will host the winner of the Colorado-Norfolk State game on Wednesday, March 27 at 8 p.m. Central (TV network TBA).
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
No. 2 seed Texas 78, No. 3 seed Xavier 76 (ot)
NIT Second Round
March 24, 2019
Frank Erwin Center (Austin, Texas)
Attendance: 3,204
Team Notes
- With the victory, Texas advances to the NIT Quarterfinals. The Longhorns will host the winner of Monday's Norfolk State at Colorado contest on Wednesday, March 27 at 8 p.m. CT in the Erwin Center (TV network is TBA at this point).
- The Longhorns improved to 8-3 all-time in five NIT appearances. This marked UT's first overtime game in the NIT.
- Texas improved to 3-2 against Xavier in the all-time series. This marked the first meeting between the two schools since the 2004 NCAA "Sweet 16."
- UT improved to 242-46 at the Frank Erwin Center in the last 17 seasons (dating back to the start of the 2002-03 season). UT is 51-20 at home during the Shaka Smart era (14-6 this year).
- Texas improved to 4-6 in games decided by 3 points or less.
- The Longhorns improved to 10-4 this season when reaching double digits in 3-point FG made (11-23). UT is 26-of-61 (.426) from 3-point range in its first two NIT games.
- Texas posted a 21-5 advantage in points off turnovers and a 21-4 margin in bench scoring.
- Reached double figures in scoring (17 points) for the 13th time this year (34 games) and 17th time in his career (65 games)
- Went 5-8 from 3-point range, marking the fifth time this season that he has converted at least 5 three-pointers in a game
- Set a career high in minutes (10), previous: 7 vs. Eastern Illinois (Nov. 6)
- Tied his career high in rebounds (2)
- Reached double figures in scoring (17 points) for the 17th time this year (34 games)
- Set a career high in rebounds (8), previous: 7 (twice)
- Tied his career highs in FG made (7-16) and minutes (43)
- Topped the 20-point mark (21 points) for the fourth time this year (27 games) and 11th time in his career (124 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the 23rd time this year and 69th time in his career
- Tied his season high in FT made (7-15)
- His 6 assists were one shy of his season high (7 vs. UNC on Nov. 22)
- Reached double figures in scoring (11 points) for the fourth time this year (32 games) and eighth time in his career (66 games)
- Marked his first time in double-figure scoring since he had 14 points vs VCU (Dec. 5)
- Tied his season high in blocked shots (2)
- His 7 rebounds were one shy of his season high (8 vs. Radford on Nov. 30)
