Xavier basketball overcame a 22-point deficit to stun ETSU thanks to Trevon Bluiett

ETSU made 11 threes at a 39 percent clip and blocked nine shots (to Xavier’s five) Xavier wasn’t just on the ropes, they were lying on the floor face down with a nine-count. East Tennessee State took an 18-point lead into half over the No. 10 Musketeers on Saturday. ETSU had never beaten a top-10 team in program history and it looked like this would be the first time.

Xavier had other ideas. The Musketeers rallied to erase a 22-point second half deficit to steal a 68-66 home win. The hero for Xavier was — who else — Trevon Bluiett.

Bluiett’s numbers to start this season have been astounding. He’s averaging 21.7 points per game on 54 percent shooting from the field and 47 percent shooting from deep. Those are career highs across the board for the senior.

He proved on Saturday that he can still make a huge impact even when he’s having an off night. Bluiett wasn’t efficient in finishing with 18 points on 22 shots, but he found his stroke in the second half and knocked down the biggest shot of the game late.

Anyone who watched Bluiett in Xavier’s surprise run to the Elite Eight last year knew he was a stud. But he’s taking his game to an even higher level in his final year of college basketball.

The Buccaneers were playing so well. After winning 27 games and making the NCAA tournament last season out of the Southern, ETSU has started this year 6-4. Losses to Northern Arizona and Troy have been a bummer, but this was the type of win that could propel the program for the rest of the season.

So much for that. ETSU made 11 threes at a 39 percent clip and blocked nine shots (to Xavier’s five), but still couldn’t hold on in the end.

College basketball can be cruel sometimes.