Balanced scoring pushes Xavier into title game

Three 18- point performances led Xavier to an 8477 win over St. Bonaventure in the NIT semifinals Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Adam Kunkel, Jack Nunge and Zach Freemantle each scored 18 points. Colby Jones and Nate Johnson each hit double figures as well for Xavier (22-13).

The championship game against Texas A&M will be at 7 p.m. Thursday.

An early 12-0 run gave the Musketeers a double-digit lead they held for a majority of the game, thanks, in part, to a 14-0 run that pushed them in front, 33-14. But the Bonnies (23-10) rallied in the second half and cut the deficit to just five, 65-60, with 5:38 to play.

But Kunkel and Freemantle kept Xavier in front by scoring a combined 25 points in the second half, and the Musketeers made enough free throws that it never became a one-possession game. St. Bonaventure once again got within five points with 5 seconds left, but by then it was too late.

Jones added 16 points and Johnson had 10 for the Musketeers. “We’re playing for one another,” Jones said. “I feel like we executed really well.”

Dominick Welch had a gamehigh 25 points, as he connected on 7 of 10 from 3-point range for St. Bonaventure. Jaren Holmes and Kyle Lofton each scored 15.

Other game Texas A&M 72, Washington State 56: Quenton Jackson scored 18 points and handed out six assists to lead Texas A&M (27-12) to an easy win against Washington State (22-15). The Aggies enter the title game as winners of 11 of their past 12. Tyrell Roberts led Washington State with 14 points but had little support.