CINCINNATI (AP) — Xavier has reached the NCAA tournament's round of 16 by showing strong survival instincts.
The Musketeers are taking a 20-game winning streak into the regional semifinals, a measure of how good they've been during close calls. A 63-62 victory over Vanderbilt on Tuesday night was the latest in a string of fabulous finishes, sending Xavier to Sacramento to face Gonzaga.
There's no mystery about what makes third-seeded Xavier (29-3) such a tough team to close out. The Musketeers' front-line duo of Ta'Shia Phillips and Amber Harris are at their best in the final moments.