STBON

XAVIER

Xavier outlasts St. Bonaventure 84-77 in NIT semifinals

AP
Mar 30, 2022

NEW YORK (AP) Jack Nunge, Adam Kunkel and Zach Freemantle each scored 18 points, and Xavier Musketeers outlasted St. Bonaventure Bonnies 84-77 in the NIT semifinals Tuesday night.

Colby Jones added 16 points and Nate Johnson had 10 for the Musketeers (22-13), who will face Texas A&M for the tournament championship Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

The Aggies cruised to a 72-56 victory over Washington State in the second semifinal.

Dominick Welch led St. Bonaventure (23-10) with 25 points. Jaren Holmes and Kyle Lofton each scored 15. Lofton also had 11 assists and five rebounds.

Xavier led by 19 in the first half but struggled to put away the Bonnies, who got within six twice in the closing minutes. The Musketeers made enough free throws that it never became a one-possession game.

St. Bonaventure cut it to five with five seconds left, but by then it was too late.

''We're playing for one another,'' Jones said. ''I feel like we executed really well.''

Xavier shot 34 of 64 from the field (53.1%) and had a 38-28 advantage in rebounds. St. Bonaventure was 29 of 62 (46.8%) shooting.

UP NEXT

In the end of a college basketball tradition that dates to 1938, the championship game Thursday night will mark the NIT's last one at Madison Square Garden for at least a couple of years.

MSG won't host the semifinals and finals in 2023 and 2024, the NIT announced Monday, saying it has started a bid process to find new sites for those years and an announcement is expected this spring.

The NCAA bought the rights to the NIT in 2005.

''The NIT has had a rich history in New York City and we appreciate the invaluable partnership with Madison Square Garden,'' NCAA Senior Vice President Dan Gavitt said in a statement. ''This has not been an easy decision to make, but it is a mutual one.''

Gavitt added that ''2023 and 2024 offer exciting possibilities for hosting the tournament in a new city and venue that will provide the teams with an outstanding experience.''

College basketball's oldest major postseason tournament - and once its most prestigious - the National Invitation Tournament has crowned 82 champions at Madison Square Garden and played there annually since the event's inception in 1938.

Last year was an exception, when the whole tournament was played in North Texas with a reduced field because of the coronavirus pandemic that also forced cancellation of the 2020 edition.

Nothing has been determined beyond 2024.

''The postseason NIT has been a great partner of ours over the years with a dedicated fanbase, and we wish them all the best,'' said Joel Fisher, executive vice president, MSG Marquee Events.

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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

1st Half
STBN
Bonnies
23
XAV
Musketeers
38

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Osun Osunniyi vs. Jack Nunge (Bonnies gains possession)
19:44	+2	Jalen Adaway makes two point dunk (Jaren Holmes assists)	2-0
19:24	+2	Jack Nunge makes two point jump shot (Adam Kunkel assists)	2-2
19:01	+3	Dominick Welch makes three point jump shot (Osun Osunniyi assists)	5-2
18:43	+3	Jack Nunge makes three point jump shot (Nate Johnson assists)	5-5
18:23		Jaren Holmes misses two point layup
18:21		Colby Jones defensive rebound
18:15	+2	Colby Jones makes two point jump shot	5-6
17:53		Jaren Holmes turnover (bad pass)
17:38		Kyle Lofton personal foul (Adam Kunkel draws the foul)
17:27		Adam Kunkel turnover (lost ball) (Dominick Welch steals)
17:19		Dominick Welch misses two point jump shot
17:17		Jack Nunge defensive rebound
17:10		Dwon Odom misses two point jump shot
17:08		Osun Osunniyi defensive rebound
16:59	+2	Kyle Lofton makes two point jump shot	7-6
16:44		Colby Jones misses two point layup
16:41		Musketeers offensive rebound
16:28	+2	Colby Jones makes two point jump shot	7-8
16:06		Kyle Lofton misses three point jump shot
16:04		Colby Jones defensive rebound
15:51		Osun Osunniyi blocks Dwon Odom's two point layup
15:49		Musketeers offensive rebound
15:49		TV timeout
15:32	+2	Colby Jones makes two point jump shot	7-11
15:06		Jaren Holmes turnover (lost ball) (Jerome Hunter steals)
15:01		Osun Osunniyi blocks Colby Jones's two point layup
14:59		Musketeers offensive rebound
14:43	+3	Nate Johnson makes three point jump shot (Colby Jones assists)	7-14
14:28		Jaren Holmes misses two point jump shot
14:26		Jerome Hunter defensive rebound
14:19	+3	Nate Johnson makes three point jump shot	7-17
14:19		Bonnies 30 second timeout
13:54		Jalen Adaway misses three point jump shot
13:52		Adam Kunkel defensive rebound
13:51		Osun Osunniyi personal foul (Adam Kunkel draws the foul)
13:35		Zach Freemantle misses two point layup
13:33		Jalen Adaway defensive rebound
13:25		Kyle Lofton misses two point jump shot
13:23		Nate Johnson defensive rebound
13:17	+2	Zach Freemantle makes two point layup (Nate Johnson assists)	7-19
13:02		Jerome Hunter personal foul (Jalen Adaway draws the foul)
12:49	+2	Abdoul Karim Coulibaly makes two point layup (Kyle Lofton assists)	9-19
12:33		Adam Kunkel misses three point jump shot
12:31		Jalen Adaway defensive rebound
12:15		Abdoul Karim Coulibaly misses two point jump shot
12:13		Zach Freemantle defensive rebound
11:57		Nate Johnson misses three point jump shot
11:55		Jalen Adaway defensive rebound
11:43		Abdoul Karim Coulibaly misses two point layup
11:41		Musketeers defensive rebound
11:41		TV timeout
11:17		Nate Johnson offensive foul (Jalen Adaway draws the foul)
11:17		Nate Johnson turnover
10:58	+3	Dominick Welch makes three point jump shot	12-19
10:39		Adam Kunkel turnover (bad pass) (Abdoul Karim Coulibaly steals)
10:21	+2	Abdoul Karim Coulibaly makes two point hook shot	14-19
10:20		Musketeers 30 second timeout
10:03	+2	Dwon Odom makes two point jump shot (Jack Nunge assists)	14-21
9:50		Abdoul Karim Coulibaly turnover (bad pass) (Dwon Odom steals)
9:43	+3	Adam Kunkel makes three point jump shot (Dwon Odom assists)	14-24
9:27		Kyle Lofton misses three point jump shot
9:25		Dominick Welch offensive rebound
9:24		Dominick Welch misses two point layup
9:18		Dominick Welch offensive rebound
9:21		Jack Nunge blocks Dominick Welch's two point layup
9:19		Nate Johnson defensive rebound
9:14		Adam Kunkel misses three point jump shot
9:12		Dominick Welch defensive rebound
9:02		Jaren Holmes turnover (out of bounds)
8:46		Nate Johnson misses three point jump shot
8:44		Jack Nunge offensive rebound
8:43		Jack Nunge misses two point tip shot
8:41		Kyle Lofton defensive rebound
8:36		Jaren Holmes misses two point jump shot
8:34		Jaren Holmes offensive rebound
8:29		Jaren Holmes misses two point layup
8:31		Kyle Lofton offensive rebound
8:25		Kyle Lofton misses two point jump shot
8:23		Nate Johnson defensive rebound
8:02	+2	Colby Jones makes two point layup (Adam Kunkel assists)	14-26
7:41		Jalen Adaway misses two point jump shot
7:39		Adam Kunkel defensive rebound
7:23	+2	Dwon Odom makes two point layup (Jack Nunge assists)	14-28
7:08		Kyle Lofton misses two point jump shot
7:06		Colby Jones defensive rebound
6:54		Jalen Adaway shooting foul (Adam Kunkel draws the foul)
6:54		TV timeout
6:54		Adam Kunkel misses regular free throw 1 of 2
6:54	+1	Adam Kunkel makes regular free throw 2 of 2	14-29
6:38		Zach Freemantle misses three point jump shot
6:36		Jack Nunge offensive rebound
6:35	+2	Jack Nunge makes two point layup	14-31
6:16		Dominick Welch misses three point jump shot
6:14		Colby Jones defensive rebound
6:01		Nate Johnson misses three point jump shot
5:59		Jack Nunge offensive rebound
5:43		Adam Kunkel misses three point jump shot
5:41		Jack Nunge offensive rebound
5:36		Jack Nunge misses two point hook shot
5:34		Jack Nunge offensive rebound
5:29		Osun Osunniyi blocks Nate Johnson's two point layup
5:27		Jack Nunge offensive rebound
5:14		Jump ball. Osun Osunniyi vs. Nate Johnson (Musketeers gains possession)
4:23		Colby Jones misses two point jump shot
4:21		Osun Osunniyi defensive rebound
4:14		Jaren Holmes misses three point jump shot
4:12		Musketeers defensive rebound
3:56		Osun Osunniyi blocks Adam Kunkel's two point jump shot
3:54		Jaren Holmes defensive rebound
3:44	+2	Abdoul Karim Coulibaly makes two point layup (Osun Osunniyi assists)	18-33
3:28	+3	Zach Freemantle makes three point jump shot (Colby Jones assists)	18-36
3:02	+3	Dominick Welch makes three point jump shot (Kyle Lofton assists)	21-36
2:46		Adam Kunkel misses three point jump shot
2:33	+1	Osun Osunniyi makes regular free throw 1 of 2	22-36
2:33	+1	Osun Osunniyi makes regular free throw 1 of 2	22-36
2:33	+1	Osun Osunniyi makes regular free throw 2 of 2	23-36
2:07		Adam Kunkel misses three point jump shot
2:05		Jaren Holmes defensive rebound
1:47		Abdoul Karim Coulibaly misses two point jump shot
1:45		Zach Freemantle defensive rebound
1:34		Colby Jones misses two point jump shot
1:32		Osun Osunniyi defensive rebound
1:16		Osun Osunniyi misses two point hook shot
1:14		Abdoul Karim Coulibaly offensive rebound
1:07		Dominick Welch misses three point jump shot
1:05		Colby Jones defensive rebound
0:44	+2	Zach Freemantle makes two point layup (Nate Johnson assists)	23-38
0:25		Dominick Welch turnover (lost ball) (Colby Jones steals)
0:03		Colby Jones misses three point jump shot
0:01		Cesare Edwards offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
STBN
Bonnies
54
XAV
Musketeers
46

Time		Play	Score
19:40		Jalen Adaway misses two point jump shot
19:38		Colby Jones defensive rebound
19:28		Colby Jones misses two point layup
19:26		Dominick Welch defensive rebound
19:21	+2	Dominick Welch makes two point layup	25-38
19:03	+2	Adam Kunkel makes two point layup	25-40
18:42		Dwon Odom shooting foul (Kyle Lofton draws the foul)
18:42	+1	Kyle Lofton makes regular free throw 1 of 2	26-40
18:42	+1	Kyle Lofton makes regular free throw 2 of 2	27-40
18:29	+2	Adam Kunkel makes two point jump shot	27-42
18:19	+2	Kyle Lofton makes two point jump shot	29-42
17:57		Adam Kunkel turnover (bad pass) (Jaren Holmes steals)
17:53	+3	Kyle Lofton makes three point jump shot (Jaren Holmes assists)	32-42
17:25	+2	Colby Jones makes two point layup	32-44
17:01	+2	Osun Osunniyi makes two point layup	34-44
16:46		Kyle Lofton shooting foul (Jack Nunge draws the foul)
16:46		Dominick Welch technical foul
16:46		Dwon Odom technical foul
16:46		Dwon Odom turnover
16:46		Jack Nunge misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:46	+1	Jack Nunge makes regular free throw 2 of 2	34-45
16:46	+1	Jack Nunge makes regular free throw 2 of 2	34-45
16:30	+2	Osun Osunniyi makes two point dunk (Kyle Lofton assists)	36-45
16:14		Kyle Lofton personal foul (Adam Kunkel draws the foul)
16:05	+2	Jack Nunge makes two point dunk (Dwon Odom assists)	36-47
15:54	+2	Kyle Lofton makes two point jump shot	38-47
15:32		Colby Jones misses three point jump shot
15:30		Dominick Welch defensive rebound
15:20		Kyle Lofton misses three point jump shot
15:18		Kyle Lofton offensive rebound
15:15		Dominick Welch misses three point jump shot
15:13		Adam Kunkel defensive rebound
14:48	+2	Jack Nunge makes two point hook shot	38-49
14:27	+2	Jalen Adaway makes two point dunk (Kyle Lofton assists)	40-49
13:58	+3	Adam Kunkel makes three point jump shot (Jack Nunge assists)	40-52
13:37	+2	Jaren Holmes makes two point jump shot (Kyle Lofton assists)	42-52
13:17	+2	Adam Kunkel makes two point jump shot	42-54
12:52		Nate Johnson shooting foul (Jaren Holmes draws the foul)
12:52		TV timeout
12:52		Jaren Holmes misses regular free throw 1 of 2
12:52	+1	Jaren Holmes makes regular free throw 2 of 2	43-54
12:52	+1	Jaren Holmes makes regular free throw 2 of 2	43-54
12:36	+2	Colby Jones makes two point layup (Zach Freemantle assists)	43-56
12:12	+3	Jaren Holmes makes three point jump shot (Dominick Welch assists)	46-56
11:49		Adam Kunkel misses three point jump shot
11:47		Jerome Hunter offensive rebound
11:44		Jerome Hunter misses two point layup
11:42		Colby Jones offensive rebound
11:30		Zach Freemantle turnover (bad pass) (Jaren Holmes steals)
11:25		Jalen Adaway misses three point jump shot
11:23		Colby Jones defensive rebound
11:23		Dominick Welch personal foul (Colby Jones draws the foul)
11:23		TV timeout
11:07		Colby Jones misses two point layup
11:05		Zach Freemantle offensive rebound
11:01	+2	Zach Freemantle makes two point layup	46-58
10:43		Colby Jones shooting foul (Jaren Holmes draws the foul)
10:43	+1	Jaren Holmes makes regular free throw 1 of 2	47-58
10:43	+1	Jaren Holmes makes regular free throw 2 of 2	48-58
10:25		Jerome Hunter turnover (lost ball) (Jaren Holmes steals)
10:19		Bonnies 30 second timeout
10:19		TV timeout
10:09		Dominick Welch misses two point layup
10:07		Dominick Welch offensive rebound
10:08		Zach Freemantle shooting foul (Dominick Welch draws the foul)
10:08	+1	Dominick Welch makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-58
10:08	+1	Dominick Welch makes regular free throw 2 of 2	50-58
9:46	+2	Zach Freemantle makes two point jump shot (Colby Jones assists)	50-60
9:24		Kyle Lofton misses three point jump shot
9:22		Zach Freemantle defensive rebound
9:02	+3	Colby Jones makes three point jump shot (Nate Johnson assists)	50-63
8:37	+3	Dominick Welch makes three point jump shot (Jaren Holmes assists)	53-63
8:11		Nate Johnson misses three point jump shot
8:09		Kyle Lofton defensive rebound
7:40	+2	Osun Osunniyi makes two point dunk (Kyle Lofton assists)	55-63
7:21		Dominick Welch personal foul (Adam Kunkel draws the foul)
7:21		TV timeout
7:17	+2	Nate Johnson makes two point jump shot (Adam Kunkel assists)	55-65
6:44		Jalen Adaway misses three point jump shot
6:42		Nate Johnson defensive rebound
6:24		Adam Kunkel misses three point jump shot
6:22		Jaren Holmes defensive rebound
6:14	+2	Jaren Holmes makes two point jump shot	57-65
5:45		Nate Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Adaway steals)
5:38	+3	Dominick Welch makes three point jump shot (Kyle Lofton assists)	60-65
5:36		Musketeers 30 second timeout
5:18		Dwon Odom misses two point jump shot
5:16		Jack Nunge offensive rebound
5:14	+2	Jack Nunge makes two point layup	60-67
4:48		Osun Osunniyi misses two point dunk
4:46		Jaren Holmes offensive rebound
4:47		Jack Nunge shooting foul (Jaren Holmes draws the foul)
4:47		Jaren Holmes misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:47	+1	Jaren Holmes makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-67
4:34	+3	Adam Kunkel makes three point jump shot	61-70
4:15	+2	Kyle Lofton makes two point jump shot	63-70
3:57		Adam Kunkel misses three point jump shot
3:55		Dominick Welch defensive rebound
3:25		Jalen Adaway misses three point jump shot
3:23		Zach Freemantle defensive rebound
3:03	+2	Zach Freemantle makes two point layup	63-72
2:47		Kyle Lofton misses two point layup
2:45		Adam Kunkel defensive rebound
2:22		Colby Jones turnover (bad pass)
2:22		TV timeout
2:14	+2	Kyle Lofton makes two point layup	65-72
1:52	+2	Zach Freemantle makes two point hook shot	65-74
1:30	+3	Dominick Welch makes three point jump shot (Kyle Lofton assists)	68-74
1:05		Dwon Odom blocks Kyle Lofton's two point layup
1:19	+2	Zach Freemantle makes two point hook shot (Nate Johnson assists)	68-76
1:05		Dwon Odom blocks Kyle Lofton's two point layup
1:03		Kyle Lofton offensive rebound
1:02	+2	Osun Osunniyi makes two point layup (Kyle Lofton assists)	70-76
1:02		Dwon Odom shooting foul (Osun Osunniyi draws the foul)
1:02		Osun Osunniyi misses regular free throw 1 of 1
1:02		Zach Freemantle defensive rebound
1:01		Dominick Welch personal foul (Zach Freemantle draws the foul)
1:00		Jalen Adaway personal foul (Colby Jones draws the foul)
1:00	+1	Colby Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2	70-77
1:00		Colby Jones misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:00		Jalen Adaway defensive rebound
0:49		Kyle Lofton offensive foul (Nate Johnson draws the foul)
0:49		Kyle Lofton turnover
0:42	+2	Adam Kunkel makes two point dunk (Colby Jones assists)	70-79
0:31	+2	Osun Osunniyi makes two point dunk (Kyle Lofton assists)	72-79
0:29		Osun Osunniyi personal foul (Jack Nunge draws the foul)
0:29	+1	Jack Nunge makes regular free throw 1 of 2	72-80
0:29	+1	Jack Nunge makes regular free throw 2 of 2	72-81
0:19	+3	Dominick Welch makes three point jump shot (Jaren Holmes assists)	75-81
0:12		Kyle Lofton personal foul (Zach Freemantle draws the foul)
0:12	+1	Zach Freemantle makes regular free throw 1 of 2	75-82
0:12		Zach Freemantle misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:12		Quadry Adams defensive rebound
0:05	+2	Jaren Holmes makes two point jump shot	77-82
0:04		Quadry Adams personal foul (Nate Johnson draws the foul)
0:04	+1	Nate Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	77-83
0:04	+1	Nate Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	77-84
0:01		Jaren Holmes misses three point jump shot
0:00		Bonnies offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Bonnies offensive rebound