A big second half was not enough to carry Xavier into the Elite Eight round of the 2012 NCAA tournament, though they gave the Baylor Bears a late scare in a Sweet Sixteen matchup on Friday night. Ultimately, the Musketeers fell 75-70, ending their tournament run.
Sporting blinding uniforms officially described as "electricity," Baylor led by 13 points with two minutes left in the game. Xavier was able to close the gap to 73-70 with just 12 seconds left to play, but the Bears made their free throws to close out the game and preserve their lead.
Baylor out-shot and out-rebounded the Musketeers, besting them by eight percentage points from the field and pulling down six more boards.
Tu Holloway led Xavier with 22 points and four rebounds. Kenny Frease had 18 points, and Mark Lyon had 16 points.
Quincy Acy led the Bears with 20 points. Three other Baylor players finished with double figures.
Baylor advances to face the winner of Friday's game between Indiana and Kentucky.
Check out Banners On The Parkway if you want to know more about the Xavier Musketeers, and head to Our Daily Bears for more on Baylor.
For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.
