In the Open State Basketball Tournament -- which combines 4A, 5A, and 6A conferences -- Xavier, ranked #22, was eliminated after a first-round loss. Teams losing in the first two rounds of the Open Tournament transfer to their own conference tournament, which would be 6A for Xavier.

The sixteen teams playing in the conference tournament are then reseeded to not include the teams advancing in the Open Tournament. Last night, the #7 Xavier Gators defeated the #10 Mesa Jackrabbits in the AC 58-50. The Gators move on to the 6A quarterfinals tomorrow, 2/28, to play #2 Gilbert, 6:00pm, at Gilbert.

The Gators jumped on the Jackrabbits early to establish a 20-6 advantage by the end of the first quarter. Xavier clearly proved to be the better team, so the forecast in my mind said we were going to be up by at least 30 points going into the 4th quarter, a running clock would be implemented, and we would be going home early that night.

However, a game consists of four quarters, and all quarters must be played.

During the second quarter, Xavier's 14-point advantage took a slight hit, dwindling to a 31-20, eleven-point edge.

During the third quarter, the Jackrabbits made it clear they were not going down without a fight as they narrowed the Gator lead to eight. 

If it rained in the third quarter, it poured in the first one minute and ten seconds of the fourth quarter, as Mesa closed the gap to one, 43-42. 

However, during the next minute, the sun broke through the dark clouds. Xavier led by five, 47-42, with 5:55 remaining in the game, and the Jackrabbits were in the midst of a four-minute scoring drought.

Xavier would eventually increase their lead to eleven but settled for an eight-point 58-50 win.