COL BKB: Xavier 73, Georgia 61

WASHINGTON, March 20 (UPI) -- Josh Duncan had 20 points and eight rebounds Thursday in Xavier's 73-61 victory over Georgia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's West Region.

The contest was played at the Verizon Center in Washington.

The stubborn Bulldogs, surprise winners last weekend at the SEC Tournament in tornado damaged Atlanta, stayed ahead before Dante Jackson's three-pointer with 7:23 remaining gave Xavier the lead for good at 52-49.

From that point, 14th-seeded UGA had to play catchup and ran out of gas.

Derrick Brown had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Drew Lavender scored 13 points for the third-seeded Musketeers (28-6), who faced a 35-26 halftime deficit.

Georgia was led by Terrance Woodbury's 16 points and seven rebounds.

Sundiata Gaines had 13 points and six assists.

Billy Humphrey scored 12 while Jeremy Price added 10 with five rebounds for the Bulldogs, whose season ended with a 17-16 record.