Monday, March 19, 2012

Xavier is Back in The Sweet 16

Xavier is Back in The Sweet 16: 10-seeded Musketeers punched their ticket to the regional semifinals fourth in five seasons after overcoming a 15-seeded Lehigh 70-58 in the NCAA Tournament third-round game Sunday at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Xavier Hawks defeated Mount Hope "the first 15 seed to advance to the Sweet 16, increasing from four to 15-point deficit, the execution of the swing 8.26 for half and holding the other Lehigh to 14.7 percent shooting in the second half.

And then there was the first Frease Kenny. Mountain Hawks had no answer for 7-foot center, who started the game at 08.08 and scored five points in the second round 7-0 1/2, which gave Xavier its first lead.

Frease old high school foe, Lehigh star CJ McCollum said he is "the beast" in his day, Perry High, and the history of Frease played with a dominating performance. He finished a career high 25 points and 12 rebounds.

"I was just a lot more than these guys, and I was able to get in scoring position, and my teammates found me," said Frease.

You Holloway added 21 points and Jeff Robinson chipped in eight rebounds to propel a career in the semifinals Musketeers South Regional on Friday in Atlanta.

Xavier (23.12), faced with the third seeded Baylor (29-7), who beat 11 seeded Colorado on Saturday in Albuquerque.
The big question is whether the rookie Dez Wells can play. Wells was allegedly injured left big toe in the first half.

Coach Chris Mack said Wells got confused on the rebound of the ball freely and Lehigh player accidentally fell on him. Wells left the earth 10:38 left in the frame and not to return to action.

"In terms of where we go from here, it's too early to predict, but he lived in the gym this week, and we hope to be able to give it a go next week, said Mac

Dee Davis has played his best first half of the season and started on the site of Wells in the second half.

Davis made two 3-points before the break - the end of the drought of 0-to-6, which began in the Memphis game - played defense and heady. It took three charges, including one that sent McCollum on the bench with two fouls.

Although the Patriot League player twice this year entered the game as a marker of 2000 points and was the driving force behind the team leader Mackey McKnight stole the show from the beginning.

McKnight scored nine points in Xavier had just four telephone and completed a half with 14 points on 6-9 shooting.

Xavier fell to a bad start which only gets worse during the first 15 minutes. The players made five missteps and begin to experience the Lehigh 10-0 run that left the back for 15.

Frease said in a deal the team was familiar.

"It was like," Well, boys, why we do it again? "We do it for yourself in almost every game. This is a problem, because, especially in the next two rounds, we're playing teams that we will not be able to return," said Frease.

With 4:11 left in the first half, the Musketeers finally wake up.

Frease becomes idle tears begin to 6.17, which narrowed the Mountain Hawks lead of four at the break.

Holloway scored all six of his points in the first half of the last 2:07 and beat the sound with a 3-pointer.

Frease lay-up 47 seconds into the second half gave the advantage of 38 to 37 XU.

But the Hawks stayed close to the mountain, cutting XU lead to two with 11 minutes remaining. McCollum associated score 50 on a jumper and did the same to make it 52-all.

But Holloway said a 3-pointer, which caused a 8-0 run, and Xavier survived.

McCollum finished with 14 points in a season record for the Hawks Hill (8.27). McKnight led Lehigh with 20 points.

Xavier freshman Justin Martin, who scored two points and added seven rebounds, was one of the players who were smiling in the locker room afterward.

"I have no words," he said. "Just a voice."

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