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Xavier downs Georgia State, reaches Sweet 16

Mar 22, 2015 - 2:58 AM Jacksonville, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Jalen Reynolds scored 21 points with six rebounds off the bench to help Xavier take down Georgia State, 75-67, in the third round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

Myles Davis added 17 points in a reserve role for the Musketeers (23-13), who will play Arizona in the Sweet 16.

Sixth-seeded Xavier has made it back to the round of 16 for the seventh time in school history and for the first time since 2012.

R.J. Hunter, who hit the game-winning 3-pointer in Thursday's upset win over third-seeded Baylor, paced the Panthers (25-10) with 20 points.

"(We) just kept battling, man," said Hunter. "You know, after yesterday we felt like anything was possible. We battled, man, all the way to the end."

The Musketeers controlled the game and shot an incredible 67.6 percent from the floor -- including 7-of-13 from beyond the arc -- in the win.

Kevin Ware's jumper two minutes into the second half tied the game at 34-34. Xavier used a 9-2 run moments later to take a 45-38 lead, then Davis' 3- pointer made it a 10-point spread with over eight minutes left in the game.

Hunter buried a 3-pointer to help the 14th-seeded Panthers close to within 55-51 with 5:50 remaining, but that would be as close as they would get down the stretch.

A pair of free throws from Dee Davis made it an eight-point game moments later, then Reynolds converted a three-point play with 2:24 on the clock that gave Xavier a 64-55 edge.

Myles Davis fired in a 3 with 1:35 left that stretched the margin back to 10 and essentially sealed the result.

"We shot such a high percentage from the field, and, you know, it's one thing to talk about it and prepare in a 24-hour period of time," said Xavier coach Chris Mack. "Your guys have been through the wars. It's hard to really go full speed in a practice the day before you play such a meaningful game. It took our guys, I think, a half to realize how much of a gambling attitude and type of style of play that Georgia State employs."

Dee Davis and Myles Davis wrapped 3-pointers around a Remy Abell three-point play that gave Xavier a 15-4 lead prior to the second media timeout of the first half.

Hunter hit two 3s later in the half as part of an 11-4 spurt for Georgia State that brought it within two, but the Panthers were held scoreless over the final two minutes of the frame. The Musketeers did not take advantage of the drought, however, scoring just two points on a Reynolds dunk that sent them into the break with a 32-28 edge.

Game Notes

Xavier has reached the Sweet 16 five times since 2008 ... The Musketeers last reached the Elite Eight in 2008 ... Ryan Harrow, Georgia State's second- leading scorer, returned to the lineup after missing Thursday's game with a hamstring injury to score six points off the bench ... Dee Davis had 15 points in the win ... Georgia State converted 26-of-46 attempts from the floor ... Xavier's bench outscored the Panthers reserves, 38-19.