Final
Holloway lifts Xavier over Notre Dame
Mar 17, 2012 - 5:49 AM Greensboro, NC (Sports Network) - Tu Holloway's game-high 25 points included the go-ahead layup in the final minute, as Xavier came back from a 10-point second-half deficit to oust Notre Dame, 67-63, in an NCAA Tournament South Region matchup.Dezmine Wells had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds while Kenny Frease contributed 10 points for the Musketeers (22-12). Their NCAA Tournament run continues Sunday, when they will take on 15th-seeded Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks shocked No. 2 Duke earlier Friday.
Jack Cooley went 8-for-8 from the floor en route to 18 points and Scott Martin and Jerian Grant netted 11 apiece, but it was not enough for the Fighting Irish (22-12).
Down 63-62, Holloway drove into the lane, and, with a hand in his face, banked a fadeaway jumper high off the glass and through the cylinder for the game's 12th and final lead change.
"It's a shot I practiced over the summer," said Holloway. "I knew it was big and I needed to make it for my team."
The Irish had 22 seconds to respond, but they succumbed to a series of errors, first missing a long three-point attempt before committing a lane violation on the potentially game-tying free-throw try and an intentional foul on the ensuing Xavier inbounds pass.
The Musketeers had completed their comeback prior to the late-game heroics. Holloway stole it from Eric Atkins near midcourt and drove to the basket for a fingertip layup in the paint to complete a 21-10 spurt, giving Xavier a 59-58 edge.
But Cooley tipped in Grant's miss and, after Wells tied it on 1-of-2 from the charity stripe, Grant netted a stepback trey for a three-point Irish advantage at the 1:01 mark.
Mark Lyons answered for the Musketeers by driving down the baseline for a layup, and Atkins errantly threw away a pass to set up Holloway's eventual game-winner.
"To win here, to win anywhere you got to have an attention to detail," said Irish head coach Mike Brey. "Holloway made some big plays. I thought we could hold them off, but he made some big plays."
Game Notes
Martin fouled out with 8.1 seconds remaining...Notre Dame outshot Xavier 51 percent to 50 percent...Xavier went to the free-throw line 18 more times than Notre Dame, converting 18-of-27 of its attempts to the Irish's 4-of-9 performance...The Musketeers outscored the Irish 11-4 on fastbreaks and 11-7 on points off turnovers.
- XAVIER: 67
NOTRE DAME: 63
Final
Mar 17 12:23 AM - 178
rootsRUWTbot Added 23 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Xavier(10) 60, Notre Dame(7) 60 2nd - 1:34Mar 17 12:10 AM - 155
rootsRUWTbot Added 15 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Xavier(10) 59, Notre Dame(7) 60 2nd - 1:51Mar 17 12:09 AM - 130
rootsRUWTbot Added 10 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Xavier(10) 51, Notre Dame(7) 53 2nd - 6:08Mar 16 11:55 PM - XAVIER: 31
NOTRE DAME: 33
Halftime
Mar 16 11:00 PM - XAVIER: 0
NOTRE DAME: 0
1st Half - 20:00
Mar 16 10:17 PM
Related News
- Merry Christmas, Xavier Nation! Dec 25
- Xavier gets back in the win in Big East home opener Dec 23
- Xavier v. Seton Hall: preview, matchups, keys to the game Dec 23
- Should I still be hopeful? Dec 22
- Xavier 66-81 SJU: Big East play starts with a comprehensive beating Dec 20
- Xavier v. St. John's: preview, matchups, keys to the game Dec 20
- Xavier closes out non conference play with a win over Winthrop Dec 16
- Xavier v. Winthrop: preview, matchups, keys to the game Dec 16
- Xavier is trying to eliminate the three pointer Dec 12
- What’s in the NET today? Dec 11
- The Quincy Olivari Game Dec 9
- A quick review Dec 9