6Purdue 78 - 85 Xavier
Final
  for this game

Xavier looks for improved effort vs. Purdue

Mar 22, 2008 - 1:35 PM No. 6 Purdue (25-8) at No. 3 Xavier (28-6) 4:40 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Xavier managed to escape the first round of the NCAA Tournament - but it did not come easily.

Third-seeded Xavier shoots for its second straight win in the "Big Dance" on Saturday against No. 6 Purdue in the second round of the West Regional.

The Musketeers (28-6) trailed for a majority of their first-round matchup against Georgia before reeling off a 27-8 run midway through the second half to take control of the game en route to a 73-61 victory.

Josh Duncan scored eight of his 20 points during the outburst and freshman Dante' Jackson sank a 3-pointer with 7:23 remaining to give Xavier the lead for good at 52-49.

With the win, the Musketeers avoided becoming the fifth No. 3 seed to lose a first-round game in the last 10 years.

"We knew coming into the game it was going to be a war," Xavier coach Sean Miller said. "I credit our team, because Georgia played an excellent first half and we played an equally bad first half. In very few times can you flip it like we did at halftime."

Meanwhile, Purdue (25-8) cruised into the second round with a decisive 90-79 victory over Baylor on Thursday.

Keaton Grant led the way with 17 points, as the Boilermakers set a season high in scoring output en route to their second first-round victory in as many seasons.

The winner Saturday will face either second-seeded Duke or No. 7 West Virginia in the "Sweet 16."






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