Zip 'Em Up, Xavier's alumni team, trailed Sideline Cancer 72-71 with 5:53 left in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's TBT regional semifinal at Cintas Center when an 8-0 run propelled the former Musketeers to the finish line in thrilling fashion.
The TBT uses the Elam Ending, which means that after the first dead ball with under four minutes left in the game, the game clock shuts off and a point total is determined based on the current score, and the first team to reach that total wins.
The total on Wednesday was 87 points and Zip 'Em Up held a 79-72 lead.
After a basket from Semaj Christon, a 3-pointer and a lay-up from Kerem Kanter, Zip 'Em Up was staring at game point and called a timeout.
On the final possession, the ball found its way to JP Macura near halfcourt.
Macura angled forward and used a crossover to create some space, then stepped back and drilled the game-winning 3-pointer to send Zip 'Em Up through to the next round, 89-81.
It wasn't a set play, it was just "freestyle JP," Christon said.
"It wasn't designed for him, but he took on the bull with the horns," Bluiett said.
Macura was 0-for-8 from 3-point range prior to hitting the game-winner. He finished with 12 points and five steals.
Kanter was steady throughout, getting Zip 'Em Up going early and maintaining it late. Kanter finished with a team-high 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Christon was dynamic for the second game in a row, piling up eight assists and 17 points. Bluiett had 14 points and Riley LaChance, a former Vanderbilt standout who joined Zip 'Em Up this year, poured in three 3-pointers and finished with 12 points.
After the win, BJ Raymond and CJ Anderson went up into the stands and got Sister Rose Anne Fleming, the longtime academic advisor for Xavier's men's basketball team, so she could place Zip 'Em Up through to the next line of the TBT bracket.
Zip 'Em Up advances to Thursday's regional final game at Cintas Center against top seed Florida TNT at 7 p.m.
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