NCAA Tournament Day 4 takeaways: Xavier makes first Sweet Sixteen since 2017

Day 4 of the NCAA Tournament has provided a plethora of rapturous bouts and rousing conclusions. One of the most noteworthy occurrences was Xavier’s victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Musketeers’ first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 2017. Here are the takeaways from Day 4:

Xavier’s Triumphant Return to Sweet Sixteen
The Musketeers’ first trip to the Sweet Sixteen since 2017 was rife with tension. As the final seconds ticked away, the game was still knotted at 70 points apiece. Xavier’s Tyrique Jones, however, made an emphatic dunk with 4.2 seconds left, and the Musketeers were able to hold off a last-second 3-pointer by Ohio State’s Keyshawn Woods to win the contest.

The Musketeers’ victory was a product of their sound defense and efficient shooting. Xavier held the Buckeyes to just 38.1 percent shooting from the floor, while they themselves shot 50 percent. The Musketeers also dominated the glass, out-rebounding Ohio State 37-22.

Houston’s Domination of the Bulldogs
The Cougars of Houston displayed a masterful performance against the Georgia State Bulldogs, leading by double-digits for most of the game. The Houston offense was characterized by ball movement, as the Cougars had 17 assists to Georgia State’s 7. Houston also out-rebounded the Bulldogs and held them to 33.3 percent shooting from the field.

The Cougars were led by guard Corey Davis Jr., who scored 18 points and had 8 assists. Moreover, Houston held the Bulldogs’ D’Marcus Simonds, the Sun Belt Player of the Year, to just 15 points.

Other Significant Contests
Other notable showings from Day 4 included Nevada’s thrilling overtime win over Florida, Purdue’s triumph over Old Dominion, and Tennessee’s defeat of Iowa. Nevada’s Cody Martin recorded a triple-double of 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Boilermakers’ Carsen Edwards scored 29 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, while the Volunteers’ Grant Williams contributed 22 points.

Day 4 of the NCAA Tournament certainly did not disappoint, as Xavier’s victory and Houston’s domination of the Bulldogs were just a few of the many exhilarating matchups. With Day 4 in the books, the road to the Final Four continues.