03.31.22

Colby Jones leads Xavier with career-high 21 points

NEW YORK – Xavier held off Texas A&M to take a 73-72 win in the 2022 NIT Finals at Madison Square Garden on Thursday evening. The title marks the program’s second NIT Championship, also winning the title in 1958.

In a game that featured 10 ties and 17 lead changes, Jack Nunge hit the go-ahead bucket with three seconds remaining to put the Musketeers in front for good. Xavier had led by as many as nine in the first half before Texas A&M went on a run to take and eight point lead into the break. Xavier chipped away at the halftime advantage over the first eight minutes of the second half, and went on to lead by as five late in the second half before taking the 73-72 win.

Colby Jones set a new career-best mark at 21 points on the way to earning the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Dwon Odom added 18 points and Jack Nunge finished with a double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. The Musketeers finish the season at 23-13, winning five straight to close out the season.

COURTESY XAVIER ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS