Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Wisconsin
Defense Fuels 60-49 Comeback Win over Wisconsin
03.22.09 | Men's Basketball
March 22, 2009
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BOISE, Idaho - Shutting down the No. 12-seeded Wisconsin Badgers down for over six minutes during a stretch in the second half, the No. 4 Xavier men's basketball team posted a 60-49 comeback win in the Second Round of the 2009 NCAA Basketball Championship. Senior B.J. Raymond led the way, scoring 17 points to help the Musketeers advance to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season.
Freshmen led the charge early for XU, with Kenny Frease and Terrell Holloway combining to score the team's first five points and keep the Musketeers even the with Badgers. Sophomore Jamel McLean gave Xavier the lead, 10-9, with just over 10 minutes to play, taking a nice feed from Raymond along the baseline and soaring for a two-handed slam.
After the Badgers answered with a jumper on the other end, Brown hit back-to-back three-pointers to give XU a 16-11 lead and force Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan to call a timeout. The Badgers responded with five straight points to tie the game before a pair of Jason Love free throws put the Musketeers in front, 18-16.
Wisconsin cut the deficit to one with a free throw, but senior C.J. Anderson connected twice from the charity stripe to push XU's advantage to three, 20-17. The Badgers scored the next eight points, however, to take a five point-lead, 25-20. Holloway ended the rally with a three-pointer off the dribble that cut the deficit to two.
Two more free throws by Wisconsin made it a four-point game, but an athletic catch and shoot play by Brown on the final possession of the half made it a two-point margin going into the halftime break.
Wisconsin hit the ground running to begin the second half, opening with a 6-1 rally that expanded its lead to seven, 33-26. The Musketeers responded with their trademark defense, scoring nine straight points and holding the Badgers scoreless for over six minutes of game action to regain the lead when sophomore Dante Jackson hit a three-pointer with just over 12 minutes to play.
The Badgers finally ended their drought with a jumper at the 9:55 mark, pulling within one, 36-35. Wisconsin regained the lead on its next possession with a driving layup, but a pair of free throws by Jackson restored a one-point advantage for XU, 38-37. After getting a stop of defense, a thunderous dunk by McLean extended the lead to three.
A pair of free throws by Wisconsin once again brought the Badgers within one point, but XU went on a 9-2 run over the next two and a half minutes, culminating with a three-pointer by Raymond with 4:25 remaining that put XU in front 49-41.
Solid free throw shooting down the stretch kept the Badgers from mounting a comeback and the Musketeers held on to advance to the Sweet 16 of the 2009 NCAA Basketball Championship.
