Arizona 68 Xavier 60
The sixth-seeded Xavier Muskateers were neck-and-neck with No. 2 Arizona for most of their Sweet 16 matchup, but the Wildcats eventually pulled away, outscoring Xavier 19-7 during a late run to earn a berth in the Elite Eight for the second straight season, setting up a rematch between Arizona and Wisconsin, whom the Wildcats beat in last year’s Sweet 16 en route to a Final Four run.
The two teams were tied 28-28 at halftime, and exchanged leads for most of the second half, before Arizona went on the deciding run. T.J. McConnell hit a three-pointer with 4:19 in the second half to give the Wildcats a 58-54 lead, which they held on to after outscoring Xavier 10-6 the final four minutes.
Arizona was 17 of 19 from the free-throw line, hitting several key free throws down the stretch.
Xavier, who was a productive three-point shooting team during the regular season, shot just 3 of 15 from long range, and didn’t have a made three until the second half.
McConnell led the Wildcats with 17 points, while also contributing six rebounds and five assists. Freshman Stanley Johnson added 12 points.
Senior center Matt Stainbrook spearheaded the Musketeers, notching a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, in his final game with the team.
Xavier point guard Dee Davis added 12 points. Xavier’s other three starters combined for just nine points.
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“We just missed some shots, and it hurts when you do that because a lot of it comes down to senior leadership,” Stainbrook lamented afterwards. “I think me and Dee tried to be closers and tried to lead our team, and sometimes it just doesn’t go the way you want it.”
The Muskateers finished the season at 23-14, while Arizona improved to 34-3.
