Texas makes historical past, advances to Elite 8 with complete 83-71 win over Xavier

With a visit to the Elite 8 towards Miami on the road, No. 2-seed Texas took down No. 3-seed Xavier on Friday evening in Kansas Metropolis.

“I’m pleased with my guys and the way they got here out and actually put their will into this recreation from begin to end,” interim head coach Rodney Terry mentioned. “It was a very good crew win from us tonight.”

Seeking to make historical past, freshman ahead Dillon Mitchell received the tip and the Longhorns acquired off to an electrical begin, taking an early 6-0 lead.

Proceedings rapidly took a flip for the more serious although as Texas’ greatest participant all through the match, senior ahead Dylan Disu, needed to come out of the sport early and got here again to the bench with a boot on his left foot. He can be rapidly declared out for the rest of the sport.

“We’ve had that subsequent man up mentality,” Marcus Carr mentioned after the sport. “We simply actually wished to play for (Disu).”

To make issues worse, graduate guard and Massive 12 Sixth Man of the 12 months Sir’Jabari Rice picked up two early fouls and was compelled to return to the bench.

“Foul hassle, an injured man, you simply maintain enjoying and maintain working the sport for 40 minutes,” Terry mentioned.

Regardless of this, Texas seemed able to blow the sport open early after taking a 9 level lead, however the Musketeers steadied themselves and compelled Terry into an early timeout with the rating 14-10 in favor of Texas.

Carr acquired the Longhorns again on monitor, doing virtually all the things in a whirlwind show of perimeter dominance. The Toronto-born graduate guard had 11 factors whereas additionally notching three assists together with an alley-oop to graduate ahead Christian Bishop that compelled Xavier right into a timeout.

The timeout didn’t do the Musketeers a lot good, as Texas stored its foot on the fuel, bringing the result in 16 factors.

With a tribute to Carr’s halftime buzzer-beater in final yr’s match towards Virginia Tech, senior ahead Timmy Allen gave Texas its greatest lead with a jaw dropping halfcourt heave that beat the buzzer.

Led by Carr who had a game-high 15 factors, the Longhorns went into the break up 42-25.

The second half acquired underway with Texas 20 minutes away from its first Elite 8 look since 2008.

Sophomore guard Tyrese Hunter stored the Longhorns up whereas Xavier was capable of earn a bunch of factors from the free-throw line. Hunter scored 9 of Texas’ first 11 factors within the second half whereas Carr was on the bench along with his three fouls.

The second half in Kansas Metropolis changed into the Tyrese Hunter present as he drilled one other three-pointer, giving Texas its greatest lead of the sport at 20 with 11:57 to play.

The rest of the sport was by no means in query and the Longhorns have been capable of advance in convincing vogue, 83-71, with the Horns main wire to wire.

Texas had 5 scorers in double figures, most notably Carr, Hunter, Rice and Bishop, all of whom scored 16 or extra.

Though historical past was formally made, there may be nonetheless work to be performed. Texas will tackle No. 5-seed Miami on Sunday for the chance to go to Houston for the Last 4.

“We all know we’ll have our palms full with a very good Miami ball membership,” Terry mentioned.