Xavier edges Texas A&M for 1st NIT title since 1958

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If this was the last NIT championship game at Madison Square Garden, it certainly was a thriller.

Especially for Xavier.

Jack Nunge made the go-ahead basket with 3.1 seconds left and the Musketeers won their first NIT crown in 64 years Thursday night, rallying for a 73-72 victory over Texas A&M.

Colby Jones scored 21 points for Xavier (23-13) and was selected the tournament’s most outstanding player. Dwon Odom added 18, and Nunge had 15 points and 11 rebounds to help the Musketeers erase an eight-point halftime deficit under interim coach Jonas Hayes.

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Mar 31, 2022; New York, New York, USA; Xavier Musketeers guard Nate Johnson (10) reacts to making a defensive play against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half of the NIT college basketball finals at Madison Square Garden. (Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports)

"I can’t say enough about our guys," Hayes said. "That’s what Xavier basketball is."

It was the final National Invitation Tournament title game at Madison Square Garden for at least a few years — breaking a college basketball tradition that dates to 1938.

MSG won’t host the semifinals and finals anymore in 2023 and 2024, the NIT announced this week, saying a bid process has begun to find new sites for those years. Nothing has been decided about 2025 and beyond.

"Madison Square Garden is a special court," Nunge said. "Everybody knows the feel when you’re playing out there and you just want to give it your all — all the history that’s there. I’m just grateful to be part of this team and have our names in the record books."

Quenton Jackson scored 23 points for the Aggies (27-13),