NCAA Tournament 2017, Arizona vs Xavier: Highlights, score and recap

Xavier takes on Arizona in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament looking to add another chapter to their Cinderella story.

Xavier is still dancing after a back-and-forth contest that went down to the wire. Down by eight with 3:45 left, the Musketeers staged a remarkable comeback by closing the game on a 12-2 run. Their quest to be the first No. 11 seed in the Final Four since VCU lives on.

As has been the case throughout the whole Tournament, Trevon Bluiett was the story for Xavier. In just the first half, he was up to 18 points and shot an absurd 7-for-8. However, the rest of his starters combined to score 10 points, and Arizona still went into halftime with the lead.

The supporting cast came to life in the second half for Xavier. J.P. Macura hit double figures, Malcolm Bernard created some good looks for himself, and Sean O’Mara brought some defensive intensity. That allowed Xavier to rest Bluiett during the second half while his teammates kept it close before using him in their closing lineup.

After Trier did everything but score in the first half, he went absolutely nuclear in the second. With the game deadlocked at 49-48, he scored 15 straight points for Arizona to take his point total to 19. The Wildcats also went on a 10-0 run down four to retake control of the game.

After the Musketeers tied the game on a 7-0 run, it all came down to the wire. Sean O’Mara scored the go-ahead bucket with 41 seconds left, while Kadeem Allen tried to force up a hero ball shot the other way. But because O’Mara missed the one-and-one free throw, Arizona still had a chance to tie or win the game. Trier missed the shot, then Arizona forgot to intentionally foul as Xavier completed the upset.

Three stars

Trevon Bluiett – What a tournament Bluiett has been having. He scored 18 points in the first half alone, and finished with 25. He struggled to start the second half, but came in at the end of the game and hit the big shots. No matter what happens to Xavier, Bluiett’s performance should never be forgotten.

Allonzo Trier – In the first half, Trier dished the ball well, but shot poorly. But rather than complain about it, Trier locked in for the second half. He scored 15 straight points to take his total from four to 19. He missed the final shot, but his team wouldn’t have been in it without him. With nine rebounds and three assists, it was a great all-around performance for the shooting guard.

J.P. Macura – For the first half, it looked like Xavier’s offense would be a one-man show. But when Chris Mack decided to rest Bluiett, Macura stepped up and kept the Xavier offense steady. Macura finished with 14 points while shooting at an efficient 5-of-11 clip, while adding seven rebounds and five assists.

Highlights

Next game

A date with Gonzaga awaits Xavier on Saturday. Considering the Bulldogs have never made the Final Four, this is truly anybody’s contest.