Xavier rallies past Texas A&M for 1st NIT title since 1958

NEW YORK (AP) — Jack Nunge me go-ahe basket with 3.1 seconds left and Xavier won its first NIT championship in 64 years Thursday night, rallying for a 73-72 victory over Texas A&M at Mison Square Garden.

Colby Jones scored 21 points for Musketeers (23-13) and was selected tournament's most outstanding player. Dwon Odom ded 18, and Nunge h 15 points and 11 rebounds to help Xavier erase a 10-point deficit under interim coach Jonas Hayes.

It was last National Invitation Tournament title game at Mison Square Garden for at least a couple of years — ending a college basketball trition that dates to 1938.

MSG won’t host semifinals and finals in 2023 and 2024, NIT announced Monday, saying it has started a bid process to find new sites for those years and an announcement is expected this spring.

Quenton Jackson h 23 points for Aggies (27-13), left out of NCAA Tournament despite reaching SEC final, where y lost to Tennessee. It was a surprising snub by selection committee that drew criticism from Aggies coach Buzz Williams and ors.

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