PORTLAND (AP) — Colby Jones and Souley Boum each scored 22 points and Xavier beat Florida 90-83 on Thursday in opening-round play of the Phil Knight Legacy.
Xavier was ahead by as many as 11 points in the second half, but its lead was cut to one possession three times down the stretch, the last with 3:14 to play.
Xavier was off the mark on a 3-pointer, but grabbed the offensive rebound and Adam Kunkel made a driving layup to start a run of six straight points for an 88-79 lead.
Jones was 8 of 12 from the field, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range, and Boum made seven field goals and seven free throws. Xavier shot 56% overall, including 10 of 20 from distance.
Jack Nunge added 16 points and nine rebounds and Zach Freemantle had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Xavier (4-1), which had five starters reach double-figure scoring. Kunkel finished with 11 points.
Trey Bonham, making his first start after transferring from VMI, led Florida (3-2) with 23 points and Will Richard, a Belmont transfer, added 18. Colin Castleton, who entered averaging 25.3 points per game, had 11 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, and Riley Kugel scored 12 points.
Xavier will face No. 8 Duke on Friday, while Florida faces Oregon State.
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