Warriors shock No. 14 Xavier in overtime thriller, 84-82
Joston Thomas scored a career-high 24 points — including the game-winning layup with 0.8 seconds remaining in overtime — Friday night as Hawai’i shocked No. 14-ranked Xavier, 84-82, in pulsating Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic action.
A raucous crowd of 6,836 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the Warriors improve to 6-5 with their first victory over a ranked team since beating fourth-ranked Michigan State in 2005. They advance to Sunday’s 11:30 a.m. fifth-place game against Clemson.
Xavier’s Travis Taylor had tied the game at 82-82 by making the second of two free throws with 12.4 seconds left. After a kicking violation with six ticks remaining, Uh inbounded the ball to Zane Johnson, who penetrated the lane and dished to Thomas on the right side near the basket. Thomas’ finger roll circled around the rim before falling in.
The Musketeers’ Tu Holloway heaved a three-quarter court shot at the horn but it was well short.
Hawai’i had trailed 12-0 out of the gates and was behind for all but two seconds of regulation, when reserve guard Hauns Brereton drained a double-pump, 22-foot 3-point basket from the top of the key to make it 77-77.
More details, including video highlights and interviews, will be posted later.
(Photos courtesy Brandon Flores)
Friday’s results
Semifinals
Kansas State 78, UTEP 70
Long Beach State 64, Auburn 43
Consolation
Hawaii 84, Xavier 82 (OT)
Clemson 83, Southern Illinois 75 (OT)
Sunday’s schedule
9 a.m. — Xavier vs. Southern Illinois for seventh place
11:30 a.m. — Hawaii vs. Clemson for fifth place
2:30 p.m. — UTEP vs. Auburn for third place
4:30 p.m. — Kansas State vs. Long Beach State for championship
Awesome game for the warriors! Let’s keep the W’s coming
cheeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhooooooooooooooooo!
Amazing game! Played team basketball again. Free throws would make these games easier down the stretch. No quit in this team. Not the most talented team, but all heart. GO BOWS!
WAY to Go, Bows !
Best 85 minutes in a Long Time …
KEEP Improving! Knock of Clemson on Christmas Sunday !
Thank You, Joston for your continuing Growth and Maturity ! Hope you read this — When did You ADD “Humble” to your Vocabulary ? ! … Very Norm-Chow-ish ! … Great All-Around Game — Nice Step Up Nice playing within yourself ! You Never Let the Bad Boys Suck You into the Big-Bad-EGO-Game ! Played All-The-Way to Your Game-Winning Basket and 24p-9r, especially when your teammates needed you to show them that this Xavier Juggernaut can be had — Nothing to be Psyched or Intimidated About !
Miah — Seven Assists Five Steals — What a Mentor ! What a Game ! Against One of the Best Backcourts in the Country … Coach Gib — We Ought to Petition the NCAA for another year — clock or redshirt — How can a Football Scholie have another year (after three/four) and b-ball have only two ?
AND i Know we’ll see Better — But Nice Activation for Hauns — Boobirds be Gone — Tough Shots including to send the game into O.T. — Zane: You are Not Alone !
Shaq — Take The Bragging Rights VS. Xavier home — it is a Team Game and You did your part, too !
Thank you so much for the early Christmas present guys! Miah is such a fighter and Joston carried the team without letting it go to his head. Awesome, awesome, awesome win.
can’t wait for the video!
Yeah — Can i Request One (Video), Dennis !?
i screwed up and didn’t record the ESPN Broadcast — Enjoyed Screaming my head off at the game, though !
For those looking for the broadcast, the full replay is available on ESPN3.com if you have Time Warner, though I’m even more eager to see the highlights from Dayton’s viewing angle. Great job, Joston. Forget the 3 ball for now, but feel free to do anything and everything else to help this team win.
They kept battling back for a 2nd night in a row, but this time they pulled it out at the end…AWESOME!
A Big Shout Out to Joston! What a baller. He showed so much class! Way to go.
Team played so well. Keep the momentum going. Fun to watch!