Texas sports information

AUSTIN — Senior guard Kerwin Roach II scored a team-high 21 points to lead the University of Texas men’s basketball team (18-16) to a 78-76 overtime victory over Xavier (19-16) in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) on Sunday afternoon at the Frank Erwin Center.

Roach converted 6-of-13 from the field, including 2-of-2 from three-point range, while adding 8 rebounds and 6 assists in 36 minutes. Sophomore guard Jase Febres tallied 17 points, hitting 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, while freshman guard Courtney Ramey recorded 17 points and a career-high 8 rebounds. Sophomore forward Jericho Sims also added 11 points and 7 rebounds in 25 minutes.

Sims threw down dunks on consecutive possessions, as Texas grabbed a three-point margin (25-22) at the 5:33 mark. Roach scored five straight points to give UT its largest lead (38-30) with 42 seconds left in the half. However, Xavier’s Quentin Goodin hit a jumper with one second left to trim the advantage to six (38-32) at the break.

The Musketeers began the second half with a 7-0 spurt to grab a one-point lead (39-38) at the 18:43 mark. Texas responded with a 7-0 run, including three-pointers from Febres and Coleman, to take a three-point lead (50-47) at the 12:24 mark.

Goodin tied the game at 65-65 with a three-pointer at the 3:00 mark, but Febres countered with his fifth three-pointer of the contest to put the Longhorns ahead by three (68-65) with 2:42 remaining.

Xavier’s Tyrique Jones connected on a jumper with 44 seconds left to make it a one-point game (70-69). Goodin was fouled with 2 seconds left, but only hit 1 of 2 free throws to send the game to overtime.

UT took a four-point lead (77-73) with 2:37 remaining after a Ramey three-pointer and a pair of free throws by Sims. Xavier cut the lead to one (77-76) after a Jones free throw with 50 seconds left.

Roach hit a free throw to give Texas a two-point cushion (78-76) with 20 seconds left. The Musketeers missed three shot opportunities in the final four seconds.

With the victory, the Longhorns advance to the NIT quarterfinals. Texas will host the winner of the Colorado-Norfolk State game on Wednesday at 8 p.m.