Bracketcide


It's not often you see a 20-plus-point swing in one half, but the Georgia Miracle Network has been officially disconnected.

Xavier 73-61.

The final score isn't indicative of the outcome, however. Georgia, which squandered an 11-point second-half lead, still had a fighting chance with 1:24 left in regulation. Sundiata Gaines whipped a sweet pass to center Dave Bliss for a dunk, closing the gap to 64-61 and keeping hope alive for another possession or two.

Here's the problem: Xavier made its free throws. At one point, the Musketeers were on an 18-of-23 tear at the line. The game got away from Georgia because it couldn't convert makeable shots on the interior in the second half and found itself forced to make chuck-and-duck 3-pointers at the end.