No. 3 Xavier Survives Scare From No. 14 Kennesaw State

Kennesaw State led for most of the contest, but Xavier’s defense came through in the final minutes to help the Musketeers advance to the Round of 32.
No. 3 Xavier Survives Scare From No. 14 Kennesaw State
No. 3 Xavier Survives Scare From No. 14 Kennesaw State /

In a men’s NCAA tournament game that went down to the wire, No. 3 Xavier used timely offense, and a key final defensive possession to survive an upset bid from No. 14 Kennesaw State on Friday afternoon and win 72–67.

Kennesaw State led for most of the ballgame, but Xavier’s defense was stifling in the final minutes of regulation, as the Musketeers were able to go on a run and make timely stops to stave off the upset.

The Musketeers were paced by senior forward Jerome Hunter, who finished with 24 points and five rebounds. Jack Nunge finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Souley Boum scored 17 points for Xavier.

Chris Youngblood and Terrell Burden finished with 14 points apiece for the Owls in defeat.


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Mike McDaniel
MIKE MCDANIEL

Mike McDaniel is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, where he has worked since January 2022. His work has been featured at InsideTheACC.com, SB Nation, FanSided and more. McDaniel hosts the Hokie Hangover Podcast, covering Virginia Tech athletics, as well as Basketball Conference: The ACC Football Podcast. Outside of work, he is a husband and father, and an avid golfer.