Nate Johnson's Career-High 30 Points Leads No. 25 Xavier to Win Over Virginia Tech

Friday, November 26

Brooklyn, N.Y.

7:00 p.m.

Xavier University

5-1,0-0Big East

Virginia Tech

5-2,0-0ACC

Xavier

Virginia Tech

Nate Johnson's Career-High 30 Points Leads No. 25 Xavier to Win Over Virginia Tech

11.26.21 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Photos

Senior guard connects on his seventh three in final seconds of 59-58 win

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - A career night from Nate Johnson, including a game-winning three in the closing seconds, led No. 25 Xavier to a 59-58 win over Virginia Tech in the third place game of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Friday evening at Barclays Center.

Johnson finished with 15 in each half to top his previous career-high of 29, and connected on his seventh three of the evening with 25 seconds remaining to put the Musketeers back in front and help Xavier move to 5-1 on the season.

FIRST HALF

The two teams traded baskets for the first 10 minutes, with neither team leading by more than four in the first 10 minutes.
Going into the final 10 minutes before halftime, Xavier went on a 14-0 run over five minutes to put the Musketeers up 11, 26-15, with under six minutes to play in the half.
A 7-1 run for Virginia tech would pull the Hokies within five, 27-22, with 3:29 to play, but back-to-back threes from Nate Johnson pushed Xavier's lead back out to 11, matching the largest of the first half, before Xavier went into halftime up eight, 35-27.
Nate Johnson led all scorers with 15 first half points, connecting on four threes in the first 20 minutes.
Jack Nunge led Xavier with eight boards as Xavier took a 17-11 advantage on rebounds into halftime.
The Musketeers shot 56 percent from the floor (14-25) and 50 percent from outside (but 6-12) while holding the Hokies to 37.5 percent shooting and 4-11 from three.

SECOND HALF

After a slow offensive start to the half for both teams, Virginia Tech connected on the first three field goals of the half, a 7-1 run to start the half and pull within two, 36-34, before five points from Nate Johnson put the Musketeers back up seven.
Johnson's five points started a 9-3 Xavier run to take an eight point lead before the Hokies outscored Xavier 12-4 over the next five minutes to take the lead 51-49, with just over five minutes to play.
Virginia Tech held the lead into the final minute, going up by as many as four, before Xavier tied up the game on a Nate Johnson three pointers with less than three to play.
A Jack Nunge three helped keep the Musketeers within striking distance in the final minutes and after going into the final 30 second down two, Nate Johnson nailed a three with 25 seconds remaining, putting Xavier up 59-58, the final score.
Johnson finished with 15 second half points, going 5-of-6 from the floor overall and 3-of-4 from three.
Jack Nunge grabbed six rebounds to lead Xavier but the Hokies finished with a 17-13 advantage on the boards.

NOTABLES

Nate Johnson finished with a career-high 30 points, topping his previous career high of 29, set during his time at Gardner-Webb, against High Point on January 23, 2020. Johnson finished 10-of-14 from the floor overall and 7-of-11 from three, a career high for both made field goals and career-high matching for made threes.
Jack Nunge finished with nine points and grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds, topping his previous career-high of 11 set while at Iowa.
Dwon Odom finished 4-of-5 from the floor for eight points.
Paul Scruggs dished out a game-high seven assists.
Xavier finished shooting 47.8 (22-of-46) from the floor and 10-of-22 from three, while Virginia Tech shot 40.7 (22-54) from the floor and connected on 8-of-23 outside shots.
The Musketeers overcame 14 turnovers which the Hokies used to to outscore Xavier 21-10 on points off miscues.

UP NEXT

The Musketeers are back at Cintas Center for the next game, hosting Central Michigan on Wednesday, December 1. The match-up is set fo 6:30 p.m. on FS1.

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