Buzz Williams and the Aggie men’s basketball team fell to Xavier 73-72 in a last-second thriller in the NIT Championship game on Thursday night.
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When Quenton Jackson made a pair of free throws with 26 seconds left in the game, and put A&M ahead 72-71 it appeared the senior star had led the team to the NIT title, the culmination of the magical run that started in the SEC tournament, and continued even after they were inexplicably left out of the NCAA tournament.
The Aggies brought their suffocating defense to the party on the ensuing Xavier possession, unfortunately however, they couldn’t secure a timely rebound. as Adam Kunkel missed a floater, which was rebounded by Zach Freemantle, who’s layup was blocked out of bounds. Xavier junior big-man Jack Nunge was able to get free on the the inbounds play and bank in a jumper, to put the Musketeers up 73-72 with 3.1 seconds left in the game.
Tyrece Radford got a great look at a game winner on the run after the Aggie timeout, but his runner rimmed out and the Aggies fell.
It was the second time in a matter of weeks that the Aggies fell short in a tournament championship, but the way the team rebounded from the disappointment of being snubbed from the big dance, and rallied for a run at the NIT is something the players, coaches, and fans should take pride in.
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