Men's Basketball Falls to No. 6 Gonzaga in Phil Knight Legacy Third Place Game

Sunday, November 27

Portland, Ore.

7:30 PM ET

Xavier University

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Gonzaga

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Xavier

Gonzaga

Men's Basketball Falls to No. 6 Gonzaga in Phil Knight Legacy Third Place Game

11.27.22 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Photos

Jack Nunge leads all scorers with 25, Colby Jones adds 22

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. - Twenty point games from Jack Nunge and Colby Jones led the Musketeers to a late lead, but No. 6 Gonzaga pulled off the late comeback, giving Xavier the 88-84 setback in the Phil Knight Legacy third place game on Sunday evening.

Gonzaga had control early in the game, taking a 13-point lead at the 12-minute mark fo the first half, but Xavier would chip away at the advantage, getting as close as three int he final minute before going into the break down six, 40-34.

Early in the second half, the Zags pushed the lead back out to double digits, looking to be in control until the Musketeers outscored Gonzaga 25-7 over an eight minute stretch, erasing the lead and eventually using a 9-0 run to move in front, leading by as many as eight, 71-63, with six minutes to play.

Gonzaga responded with an 8-0 run to tie the game, and it remained a one-possession game until back-to-back Gonzaga baskets put the Bulldogs up for good going in to the final two minutes of the game. Colby Jones had nine points in the final minute to help Xavier get as close as two in the final seconds before falling by four, 88-84.

NOTABLES

Jack Nunge finished with a season-high 25 points to lead all scorers after scoring 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor in the second half.
Colby Jones had 22 points, scoring the final nine points for Musketeers, all coming after the 43-second mark in the second half to help Xavier cut the Gonzaga lead to two at 86-84. The total matches his career high, set on 11/24/2022 against Florida. Jones also grabbed seven rebounds and had a team-high seven assists.
Zach Freemantle finished with 14 after leading Xavier with 10 points in the first half.
Souley Boum added 10 points for the Musketeers, all coming in the second half. Boum matched Jones for team high with seven rebounds.
Gonzaga finished with a 38-31 advantage on rebounds.
Both teams shot 50 percent from the floor, with Xavier connecting on 51.5 percent of its field goals, going 8-of-15 on threes, while Gonzaga connected on 50 percent of its field goals, going 13-of-24 from three.
Xavier had a 42-30 advantage on points in the paint.