Xavier needed this game. The non-conference had not been kind to Xavier, because there are no moral victories in elite sport. The Musketeers were taking on the 8th best team in college basketball this season and needed to get a win to make the selection committee take note. Tonight, they got it.
Jerome Hunter was a difference maker
Hunter scored the bucket that put Xavier up in the second half. That was his second bucket and he ended with 6/5/1 on the night. That’s not a superficially impressive line, but Hunter earned his 16 minutes with relentless defense and effort.