GREENSBORO, N.C. — Sean Miller’s Xavier Musketeers proved an excessive amount of for 11-seed Pitt on Sunday afternoon, ending the Panthers’ 2022-23 season with a convincing 84-73 win behind Adam Kunkel, Jack Nunge, and firm.

Pitt stored up with Xavier for the primary jiffy, however the floodgates quickly opened and the Musketeers ran away with the win. Pitt put up a struggle within the remaining minutes, however couldn’t come inside eight factors as Xavier moved on to the Candy 16.

An early 7-0 run from Xavier got here to a halt as Jorge Diaz-Graham  drained a nook three, simply seconds into his first possession within the sport. Nevertheless, Pitt couldn’t hold the Musketeers quiet for for much longer.

Xavier responded with yet one more 7-0 run, constructing the general stretch to 14-3 with six straight made subject objectives to take a 28-18 lead. Colby Jones scored eight factors within the four-minute span, hitting two threes. Xavier’s huge man Nunge dominated inside, scoring 4 factors of his personal through the stretch.

Pitt lower the lead down to 6 with a Blake Hinson three, however didn’t comprise the Musketeers high-powered offense all through the remainder of the half. After Kunkel tossed up an alley-oop lob to a chopping Nunge, Kunkel adopted it up with a deep three to extend the result in a game-high 13.

Kunkel later hit his fifth three of the half — on his fifth try — to proceed the Musketeers’ momentum, growing Xavier’s result in a half-high 20. The 6-foot-4 guard had placed on a three-point taking pictures clinic, and Pitt simply couldn’t sustain. The Panthers went simply 3 for 9 from three-point vary within the first, as Hinson led the best way with 9 factors.

Adam Kunkel goes 5-of-5 from deep to guide the Musketeers with 15 within the first half!#LetsGoX pic.twitter.com/Rv1oID3NPO

— Xavier Gameday (@XavierGameday) March 19, 2023

Pitt’s Burton lower into the margin to open the second half with a mid-range fadeaway, chopping Xavier’s lead all the way down to 12.

Nevertheless, Xavier stored its foot on the fuel, and regardless of an 0-8 begin to the sport, Souley Boum drained his first three of the evening to maintain the Musketeers’ lead over 15 factors.

Trailing by 16 with slightly below 12 minutes to go, Pitt gained some momentum with a Cummings floater adopted by a Guillermo Diaz-Graham steal-then-slam. Nevertheless, Boum answered with a fast layup simply seconds later, and Desmond Claude adopted with a bucket himself. The lead was shortly over 15 factors but once more.

With 9 minutes to go, Pitt head coach Jeff Capel earned a technical foul after arguing with a referee. Pitt’s frustration continued to come back out, because the Panthers failed to chop additional into the deficit and the Musketeers caught fireplace as soon as once more.

Pitt lower the lead inside 15 as soon as extra, as Hinson hit a 3 from the brand with underneath 5 minutes to go. Then, with underneath three to go, Burton transformed an and-one layup to trim the result in 10.

Elliott then hit his first three pointer of the sport, trimming the lead all the way down to a second-half low eight with 1:40 to go.

Nevertheless, after Xavier’s Claude sank three of his 4 late free throws, the lead was again to 11.

For Xavier, Nunge completed because the main scorer with 18 factors, fouling out within the remaining minutes. Kunkel added 15 (all in first half), whereas Boum added 14 factors.

For the Panthers, Hinson led the best way with 18, whereas Nelly Cummings hit three of his 13 makes an attempt to complete his school profession with a nine-point, five-assist stat line. Burton, Nike Sibande, and Greg Elliott all concluded their school careers with the loss, ending with 16, six, and 6 factors, respectively. Guillermo Diaz-Graham began the sport instead of Federiko Federiko, ending with 11 factors and eight rebounds.

With the loss, Pitt finishes its season with a 24-12 document, its finest since 2013-14, when the Panthers gained 26 video games and superior to the Candy 16. Xavier now strikes on to face off towards No. 2 Texas within the Candy 16 in Kansas Metropolis.

LILYSILK, the world’s main silk model with a mission to encourage folks to stay higher, sustainable lives, began spring in spectacular vogue as clothes of alternative for display legend Lucy Liu when she was lately seen carrying The Amalfi Stripe Silk Shirtdress with Belt and Timeless Pleated Huge-Leg Dense Silk Trousers — each key items from the primary installment of the worldwide silk icon’s 2023 Spring Assortment, Life in Colour. Ms. Liu shared her gorgeous type on her Instagram web page on March 1 throughout press day for her new film, Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

LILYSILK’s lately launched new assortment includes three distinct elements, particularly the Stripe Assortment, Lavender Assortment, and Paisley Assortment. The dominance of vertical traces within the LILYSILK Stripe Assortment symbolizes independence, vitality, progress, life vitality and efficiency. The continual evolution of individuals’s considering has led to stripes representing the “The Freedom to Select” and the distinction of navy blue and pure white vertical daring stripes showcases a extra subtle vogue sense. Together with the flagship Amalfi Stripe Silk Shirt, The Amalfi Stripe Silk Shirtdress with Belt and The Amalfi Stripe Wrap Silk Shirtdress are different standout items.

“Lucy seems to be so assured, charming and gorgeous on this easy however vivid stripe shirt,” stated David Wang, CEO of LILYSILK. “Courageous, hardworking and a never-stop-exploring and adventurous philosophy, is exactly what LILYSILK pursues too.”

Moreover, on March 21, 2023, LILYSILK will formally launch the much-anticipated second installment of its 2023 Spring Assortment which is able to characteristic 5 fabulous silk knit items. Keep watch over LILYSILK’s official web site for extra data because the thrilling day will get nearer.

The Robert Morris Colonials can have a new-look crew coming into the 2023-24 school basketball season. Junior guard Enoch Cheeks has entered the switch portal, in response to Verbal Commits.

Cheeks performed three seasons for the Colonials after committing to Robert Morris out of highschool. He averaged 10.8 factors, 4.4 rebounds, and three.5 assists in 78 video games (67 begins).

This previous yr was Cheeks’ greatest, averaging 15.4 factors, 4.4 rebounds, and three.5 assists in a team-high 33.4 minutes, taking pictures almost 45% from the ground. The Windfall, Rhode Island native turns into the fourth RMU males’s basketball participant to enter the portal. 

Michael Inexperienced III, Tristian Jeffries, Matt Mayers had beforehand entered the switch portal after spending the 2022-23 season at RMU. Inexperienced III was essentially the most notable Colonial to hit the portal, taking part in a big function off the bench and hitting a game-winning three to defeat IUPUI within the first spherical of the Horizon League Event.

Head coach Andy Toole may also be with out graduate ahead Kahliel Spear after utilizing his closing yr of eligibility.