The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
29-8,12-6Big 12
Xavier
27-10,15-5Big East
No. 5/7 Men's Basketball defeats No. 13/14 Xavier, 83-71, in NCAA Sweet 16
03.25.2023 | Men's Basketball
Hunter paces five Longhorns with a team-high 19 points to lead Texas to the Elite Eight.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Sophomore guard Tyrese Hunter recorded a team-high 19 points to lead No. 5/7 Texas (29-8) to an 83-71 victory against No. 13/14 Xavier (27-10) in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 on Friday night in T-Mobile Center. With the win, the Longhorns advance to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time since 2008.
Hunter paced a total of five Longhorns in double-figure scoring during the contest. He converted 7-of-11 field goals, including a perfect 3-of-3 mark from three-point range, in a season-high 38 minutes. Super senior Christian Bishop posted 18 points (8-12 FG) and a team-high nine rebounds in 24 minutes, while graduate Marcus Carr tallied 18 points (7-16 FG, 2-3 threes), six assists against two turnovers and four rebounds in 32 minutes. Graduate Sir'Jabari Rice recorded 16 points (6-10 FG) and three assists in 22 minutes, and super senior Timmy Allen added 11 points (4-7 FG), six boards, three steals and two assists in 37 minutes.
The Longhorns converted 52.5-percent (32-61) from the floor, including a 58.3-percent (7-12) mark from three-point range, and registered 16 assists against nine turnovers during the victory. Texas jumped out to a 17-point lead at halftime (42-25) after holding Xavier to 27.3-percent (9-33) field goal shooting in the opening 20 minutes.
UT jumped out to a 6-0 lead after a Carr jumper at the 18:55 mark. A pair of Souley Boum free throws trimmed the deficit to 8-5 with 16:19 left, the Longhorns scored six-straight points to build a 14-5 advantage following another Carr jumper at the 13:34 mark.
A Colby Jones jumper pulled the Musketeers to within 22-16 with 6:59 remaining, before Texas went on a 12-2 run over the next three-and-a-half minutes to take a 34-18 lead following a Carr jumper at the 3:14 mark. Xavier answered with a 7-2 spurt to cut the margin to 36-25 after a Jack Nunge three-point play with 48 seconds left, before the Longhorns closed the half with six-straight points capped by an Allen banked-in three-pointer from half-court at the buzzer.
The Musketeers trimmed the deficit to 55-41 following a Boum jumper at the 12:56 mark. The Longhorns used back-to-back three-pointers from Carr and Hunter to start a 10-0 run over the next two minutes to build a 65-41 advantage after a Brock Cunningham free throw with 10:49 remaining. A Boum layup pulled Xavier to within 68-51 at the 8:09 mark.
A Desmond Claude layup cut the gap to 70-55 with 6:35 left. Texas increased its cushion to 20 points (79-59) following a Rice three-pointer at the 4:07 mark, before the Musketeers closed the game on a 12-4 run.
Texas will face No. 16/15 Miami (Fla.) in the NCAA Midwest Regional championship game (NCAA Elite Eight) on Sunday, March 26. Tipoff is set for 4:05 p.m. Central at T-Mobile Center, and the contest will be televised nationally by CBS.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
#5/7 Texas 83, #13/14 Xavier 71
NCAA Sweet 16
March 24, 2023
T-Mobile Center (Kansas City, Mo.)
Attendance: 17,429
Team Notes
- With the victory, the Longhorns advance to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time since 2008 and the eighth time in program history (1939, 1943, 1947, 1990, 2003, 2006, 2008 and 2023).
- This marks the 37th overall appearance by the Longhorns in the NCAA Tournament. Texas improved to 39-39 all-time in the Big Dance with tonight's win.
- UT improved to 22-7 under the leadership of Interim Head Coach Rodney Terry this season. Terry has guided the Longhorns to eight wins against AP Top 25 opponents.
- Texas improved to 29-8 overall on the season. The 29 wins are the third-most in a single season in program history (31-7 in 2007-08 and 30-7 in 2005-06).
- The Longhorns improved to 10-6 against AP Top 25 opponents with the victory against No. 13 Xavier. This is a school single-season record for most wins against AP-ranked teams. The previous mark was 8-5 in 2003-04.
- Texas improved to 8-1 this season in neutral-site contests.
- Seventeen (17) of UT's 29 victories this year have been by at least 10 points.
- The Longhorns converted 52.5-percent (32-61) from the floor, including a 58.3-percent mark (7-12) from three-point range. UT has converted at least 50-percent from the floor in each of its first three NCAA Tournament contests.
- Texas posted a 35-5 advantage in bench scoring and a 40-28 margin in points in the paint.
- UT registered 16 assists against just nine turnovers during the contest.
- The Longhorns improved to 22-0 this year when leading at the half.
- Texas limited Xavier to 27.3-percent (9-33) field goal shooting, including a 2-of-8 (.250) mark from three-point range, in the opening 20 minutes. The Longhorns converted 53.1-percent (17-32) from the field in the first half while building a 42-25 lead at the break.
- Reached double figures in scoring (11 points) for the 19th time this season (34 games) and 112th time in his career (153 games)
- Tied his season high in steals (3)
- Set his season high in scoring (18 points), previous: 16 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Dec. 10)
- His 18 points were one shy of his collegiate career high (19, twice)
- Tied his season high in rebounds (9)
- Tied his collegiate career high in field goals made (8-12)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the seventh time this year (37 games) and 57th time in his career (161 games)
- Posted 10 points (4-5 FG, 2-2 FT) and five rebounds in 14 minutes of action in the first half
- Reached double figures in scoring (18 points) for the 33rd time this year (37 games) and 118th time in his career (163 games)
- Registered 15 points (6-11 FG, 2-2 FT), four assists against one turnover and three rebounds in 16 minutes of action in the first half
- Added a game-high six assists against just two turnovers in 32 minutes
- Registered a team-best plus-minus total of plus-19 in 22 minutes
- Left the game at the 18:26 mark of the first half and did not return (left foot bone bruise)
- Reached double figures in scoring (team-high 19 points) for the 20th time this year (37 games) and 40th time in his career (72 games)
- Tied his collegiate career high in blocked shots (2), also had 2 vs. TCU on Jan. 22, 2022 during his time at Iowa State
- Set his season high in minutes (38), previous: 37, twice
- Reached double figures in scoring (16 points) for the 25th time this season (37 games) and 83rd time in his career (148 games)
