Xavier faces Texas A&M in the NIT Championship at Madison Square Garden as 4.5-point underdogs. The Musketeers have shown impressive form under interim head coach Jonas Hayes, winning against strong opponents like Florida, Vanderbilt, and St. Bonaventure.

Texas A&M enters the game on a hot streak, having won 11 of their last 12 games and dominated the NIT tournament with double-digit victories. Head coach Buzz Williams' team is playing with extra motivation after controversially missing the NCAA Tournament.

Xavier's keys to victory:

• Strong interior presence with Jack Nunge and Zach Freemantle
• Physical guard play matching A&M's aggressive defense
• Balanced scoring (4+ starters in double figures in recent games)
• Momentum despite loss of Paul Scruggs

Game details:

• Spread: Xavier +4.5
• Total: 137.5
• Location: Madison Square Garden
• Notable: New Xavier head coach Sean Miller will be in attendance

Prediction: Take Xavier and the points, as their size advantage and physical style match up well against Texas A&M's defensive approach. The Musketeers have already defeated two SEC teams en route to the championship game.

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