Paul Scruggs
FILE - George Mikan, of the Minneapolis Lakers, polishes off the sign on the marquee of Madison Square Garden in New York, on Dec. 13, 1949. Madison Square Garden won't host the NIT semifinals and championship game the next two years, according to a person with direct knowledge of the decision — ending a college basketball tradition that dates to 1938. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity late Wednesday night, March 23, 2022, because no public announcement had been made. (AP Photo/Jacob Harris, File)
Xavier edges Texas A&M 73-72 for 1st NIT title since 1958

Mar. 31, 2022 10:05 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — If this was the last NIT championship game at Madison Square Garden,

Providence's Justin Minaya (15) slam s dunks the all after a steal as Xavier's Paul Scruggs (1) watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Bynum's 27 points lift No. 11 Providence over Xavier in 3 OT

By Kyle Hightower Feb. 23, 2022 11:13 PM EST
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence coach Ed Cooley has been hearing a lot about how

Champagnie scores 27 to carry St. John's past Xavier 86-73

Feb. 16, 2022 09:32 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — Julian Champagnie scored 27 points and Tareq Coburn scored 13

Seton Hall's Jared Rhoden celebrates after scoring during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Xavier, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Seton Hall outlasts No. 25 Xavier 73-71 behind Rhoden

By Denis P. Gorman Feb. 09, 2022 10:11 PM EST
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Jared Rhoden scored 25 points to lead Seton Hall past No. 25

Xavier guard Dwon Odom (11) reacts after missing a shot during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against DePaul, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
McCauley scores 21, short-handed DePaul beats No. 21 Xavier

By Jeff Wallner Feb. 05, 2022 04:23 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — Courvoisier McCauley scored 21 points and Jalen Terry had 13 as

Butler guard Bo Hodges (1) shoots over Xavier's Nate Johnson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Freemantle has 23 points, No. 21 Xavier beats Butler 68-66

Feb. 02, 2022 09:28 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — Zach Freemantle scored 23 points and No. 21 Xavier overcame a

Xavier's Zach Freemantle (32) plays against Creighton's Ryan Hawkins (44) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
No. 21 Xavier rallies from 17-point deficit, beats Creighton

By Eric Olson Jan. 29, 2022 04:38 PM EST
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — His team down 17 points at halftime, Xavier coach Travis Steele

Providence players Ed Croswell, left, Jared Bynum (4), Al Durham (1), Alyn Breed, second right, and Noah Horchler (14) celebrate as they extend their lead late during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Butler, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Bynum's 3-pointer lifts No. 17 Providence over No. 21 Xavier

By Jeff Wallner Jan. 26, 2022 09:05 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — Jared Bynum's 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds remaining lifted No. 17

Marquette's Justin Lewis (10) loses control of the ball between Xavier's Jack Nunge (24), Adam Kunkel (5) and Colby Jones after being fouled during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Lewis paces Marquette to 75-64 win over No. 20 Xavier

By Jim Hoehn Jan. 23, 2022 04:20 PM EST
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Justin Lewis had 20 points and 13 rebounds to pace Marquette to a 75

DePaul's David Jones left, battles Xavier's Paul Scruggs right, for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Nunge helps No. 20 Xavier rally past DePaul 68-67

By Jay Cohen Jan. 19, 2022 11:19 PM EST
CHICAGO (AP) — Xavier coach Travis Steele liked the result. That was about it.

Connecticut's Aaliyah Edwards (3) is pressured by Creighton's Tatum Rembao (2), Carly Bachelor (22) and Molly Mogensen (21) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
No. 17 Xavier rallies to defeat Creighton 80-73

By Jeff Wallner Jan. 15, 2022 02:39 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — Colby Jones scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half as No. 17

Xavier's Colby Jones (3) blocks a shot by Villanova's Jermaine Samuels (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
No. 14 Villanova holds off No. 17 Xavier, 64-60

By Jeff Wallner Jan. 12, 2022 09:11 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — Collin Gillespie scored 21 points, Justin Moore had 16 and No. 14

Xavier guard Nate Johnson (10) blocks a shot by Butler guard Jair Bolden (52) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Kunkel scores 25 in No. 22 Xavier's 87-72 win over Butler

By Mark Ambrogi Jan. 07, 2022 10:51 PM EST
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Adam Kunkel realized pretty early in Friday night's game against

Nunge scores 31 to lift Xavier past Cincinnati 83-63

Dec. 11, 2021 11:19 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — Jack Nunge had a career-high 31 points plus 15 rebounds as Xavier

Freemantle scores 24 to lead Xavier over Ball State 96-50

Dec. 08, 2021 08:47 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — Zach Freemantle scored 24 points as Xavier routed Ball State 96-50

Xavier head coach Travis Steele shouts in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oklahoma State, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Scruggs, Jones lead Xavier past Oklahoma State 77-71

Dec. 05, 2021 08:15 PM EST
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Paul Scruggs scored 19 points, Colby Jones added 17

Xavier players huddle before the team's NCAA college basketball game against Niagara on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, in Cincinnati. (Kareem Elgazzar/The Cincinnati Enquirer via AP)
Niagara Purple Eagles at Xavier Musketeers 11/9/2021

Nov. 18, 2021 10:22 PM EST

Xavier's Paul Scruggs (1) drives to the basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Ohio State, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Xavier leads wire to wire, beats No. 19 Ohio State 71-65

By Jacob Benge Nov. 18, 2021 10:18 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — Jack Nunge had 14 points and 14 rebounds, Paul Scruggs also

Scruggs scores 23 to carry Xavier over Kent State 73-59

Nov. 12, 2021 11:08 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — Paul Scruggs had 23 points as Xavier topped Kent State 73-59

Xavier holds on for 63-60 win over Niagara

Nov. 09, 2021 11:05 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — Paul Scruggs had 17 points and six assists and Xavier held