The Enquirer/Patrick Brennan
NEW YORK CITY – This was the moment Malcolm Bernard came to Xavier University for.
Bright lights beamed down on Madison Square Garden’s postgame dais where Bernard, flanked by Xavier head coach Chris Mack and teammate Trevon Bluiett, savored a 62-57 quarterfinal, Big East Tournament win over Butler University.
For Xavier, the win greatly improved their chances of a NCAA Tournament berth that for weeks was under siege from the ravages of the Big East Conference gauntlet.
A bid to this year’s tournament would be Xavier’s 11th in 12 seasons.