Xavier rallies past Texas in First Four for its biggest comeback win this season

Marcus Foster scored 22 points and Zach Freemantle added 15 while overcoming foul trouble as Xavier rallied past Texas 86-80 in the First Four on Wednesday night.

The Musketeers (22-11) erased a 13-point deficit in their biggest comeback win this season and advanced to play No. 6 seed Illinois on Friday night in a Midwest Region game at Milwaukee.

Tre Johnson led the Longhorns with 23 points in an NCAA Tournament matchup of No. 11 seeds.

Freemantle made two free throws to give Xavier an 82-79 lead with 1:09 left. Johnson missed a fadeaway jumper, and Dailyn Swain’s putback of Freemantle’s missed 3-pointer extended the margin to five. Freemantle’s dunk sealed the win.

The Longhorns (19-16) took advantage of early foul trouble for Xavier and got to the rim at will in the first half, scoring 26 of 47 points in the paint.

Freemantle, who averaged 19.8 points during the Musketeers’ seven-game winning streak to close the regular season, had two points and two fouls in the first half. He picked up his fourth foul with 7:10 left.

Texas led 47-39 at halftime. It was the first time Xavier trailed at halftime since a loss at Creighton on Jan. 29.

Jerome Hunter’s 3-pointer tied the score at 65 with eight minutes left.

[MORE: 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament bracket here]

A 3-pointer by Oklahoma transfer John Hugley put the Musketeers ahead 75-74 with 5:07 remaining.

It was the fourth time since 1990 the teams met in the NCAA Tournament, with each school winning twice.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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