SAN JOSE – Down by as much as eight points, the Xavier University basketball team, with Middleburg High grad Malcolm Bernard hitting three second half three-pointers, engineered a 12-2 second half surge to overcome and win 73-71 over Arizona in their Sweet 16 matchup Thursday night in San Jose. Xavier (24-13), ranked 11th, on Saturday, lost 83-59 to top-seed Gonzaga (36-1) in the program’s first foray into the Elite 8. Gonzaga beat No. 4 West Virginia, on Saturday.

In the lineup for Xavier, Middleburg High graduate Malcolm Bernard, had the honor of dribbling out the final seconds of the game in front of a packed arena and millions of television viewers as his Musketeers took one huge step that has been evading the Xavier program for years. Their Elite 8 appearance is just the third in program history that has yet to advance to the Final Four and a shot at the national title.

“I just really didn’t want our season to end,” Bernard said afterward to a Cincinnati.com reporter. “We worked so hard, not only in the offseason but throughout the year battling adversity. And I just didn’t think it was time for our season to end.”

The Final Four bracket features No. 7 South Carolina, a 77-70 winner over No. 4 Florida, facing Gonzaga on April 1 (6:09 p.m.) and No. 3 Oregon, a 74-60 winner over No. 1 Kansas, facing No. 1 North Carolina, a 75-73 winner over No. 2 Kentucky at 8:49 p.m. The National Championship game is set for April 3 in Phoenix.

During Xavier’s second half surge against Arizona, Bernard had a two-handed dunk shot that ignited the final 12-2 run then hit two three pointers in those final 3:44 of the game.

Bernard finished with a March Madness best effort of 15 points with five of six shooting from the floor including the two critical three pointers. Bernard, who had a third three pointer in the second half, also had six rebounds.

In the second half, with Arizona holding a 45-41 lead at 17:07, Bernard slashed through the Wildcat defense for a two-handed dunk that inched the Musketeers to 45-43 before hitting his first three pointer to put Xavier up 46-45 at 16:30.

Arizona would battled back to lead 52-48 after two minutes of no scoring from both teams before Bernard struck again with a three pointer to put the score at 52-51 for Arizona that Xavier followed with a dunk from Arizona forward Quentin Goodin for a 53-52 Xavier lead.

Again, Arizona pushed to a 71-64 lead and again it was Bernard with a three pointer quelling the surge putting the score at 71-67 with 2:52 to go.

“I give our guys a lot of credit for weathering the storm when Arizona took the lead and believing in themselves,” said Xavier coach Chris Mack, in an NCAA.com post-game video. “I tell them that life is going to give you sucker punches all the time and how you respond defines you. Defend without fouling and manufacture quality shots, that’s what they did.”

Again, Bernard came through to snag an offensive rebound that earned two free throws with 2:09 left in the game. Bernard canned both to put Xavier within reach at 71-69.

Xavier took the 73-71 lead with a layup from guard Sean O’Mara and the score stayed put with Bernard snagging the final rebound of the night to end the game.

Against Gonzaga, Bernard opened with a two-handed dunk for the first points of the game, but the Bulldogs roared to a 49-39 halftime lead en route to the 83-59 final. Gonzaga earned its first-ever Final Four appearance.

Bernard, who finishes his college career, was held to just five points, four rebounds, one steal, one blocked shot and one assist for the game.