Tre Carroll and Messina-Moore have combined for 11 second-half points. Both in double figures for the game. Murray State timeout with 3 seconds left on the shot clock. Murray State 54, Xavier 45 - 9:55, 2H

Xavier in the bonus and Tre Carroll goes back to the free-throw line and knocks down a pair. He's got 15 and Xavier is within five. 54-49 with 8:23 left.

Murray State went 4-plus minutes without a point before that big 3-pointer from Javon Jackson. Roddie Anderson going to the line after the media timeout. Murray State 57, Xavier 49 - 6:56, 2H

Roddie Anderson with a strong take for an and-1. He knocks down the free throw and Xavier is within three. Murray State leads 59-56 with 5:40 left.

Xavier had all the momentum and had cut the lead to two before Brayden Shorter hits a contested corner 3-pointer. Murray State leads Xavier, 62-57, at the final media timeout. 3:15 remaining

Xavier within a bucket at 64-62 with two minutes left.

Tre Carroll up to 21 points after that bucket to tie it 64-64. Timeout Murray State with 1:30 left.

Pitino unhappy with that foul call that sends Courbon to the line for Murray State. He knocks down the first to give the Racers a 66-64 lead with 46.7 seconds left. Timeout Xavier

Milicevic missed the game-tying 3 but Roddie Anderson with a huge steal in the backcourt. His layup makes it a one-point game with 25 seconds left. Murray State leads 67-66. Timeout.

Timeout Racers. Murray State leads Xavier 69-66 with 15.8 seconds left.

Borovicanin tried to miss the 2nd free throw but banks it in. Murray State ball with a 71-70 lead and 3.7 seconds left.

FINAL: Murray State 75, Xavier 70 Xavier trailed by as many as 13 in the second half and fought back to tie it, but couldn't pull it out as Murray State hits 11 free throws over the final 1:16. 4 of X's starters in double figures, led by Tre Carroll's 21.

Box score from Xavier’s 75-70 exhibition loss to Murray State

“The game doesn’t count. I had to remind the guys there. There’s a lot to learn from it.” Richard Pitino on exhibition loss to Murray State

Malik Messina-Moore on exhibition loss to Murray State: "It's a new group and this was an exhibition game. So we're still getting to know each other. As time goes, we're gonna get more comradery and be a lot better."

"Besides the new world of being clowned on the internet when you lose, the game doesn't count." Xavier basketball not hitting the panic button after exhibition loss to Murray State at Cintas Center. "There's a lot to learn from it." Enquirer Sports cincinnati.com/story/sports/c…

I could go for an iced cold Muskie lager after that.

Our top lad, James Weber, just completed his first season on the FC Cincy beat, and that's not to overlook Shelby Dermer's aid during the year. Incredible coworkers, enjoyed their writings from afar. Congrats and enjoy the playoff run to whatever extent you do, my guys.

Definitely a team effort, with Shelby Dermer and I covering a lot of other sports as well. And we got a big boost from intern Kamran Nia over the summer. Big shoes to fill with Pat covering the team from the very beginning. Looking forward to the playoffs!

UPDATED with reactions: 'Hell is Real' playoff series a reality as FC Cincinnati faces Columbus in first round cincinnati.com/story/sports/s… via @enquirer