Jalen Reynolds scored a career-high 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting for Xavier.
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“I’m really proud of (Reynolds) because I’ve been talking to him all year about next-play mentality and being able to turn the page and not play like there’s a rain cloud over his head,” Xavier coach Chris Mack said in a postgame interview on TNT. “He did that today.”
The game was tied at 38 with 15:08 left before Xavier went on a 10-2 run over the next three minutes to take control of the game.
Xavier was on fire from the field, shooting nearly 68 percent including 54 percent from 3-point range.
Xavier will play No. 2 Arizona in the Sweet 16 next week. Arizona is coached by former Xavier coach Sean Miller.
“I mean it stinks from a personal standpoint,” Mack said of facing his former boss. “We’re gonna go out there and we’re gonna compete.”
