PHOENIX -- West Virginia has been prone to have bad free-throw shooting games, and the Mountaineers have struggled to put several teams away because of their lack of consistency from the free-throw line.

Last night it probably cost them a chance to go to the Elite Eight as they let a six-point overtime lead slip away against Xavier and missed 4 of 6 free throws in one stretch before falling in overtime, 79-75. The Mountaineers actually shot pretty good from the free-throw line until the final minutes as they had made 17 of 22 up to that point.

West Virginia also had a chance to take a lead with 14 seconds to play in regulation, but Joe Alexander failed to make a free throw to complete a three-point play.

The Mountaineers had similar situations -- a chance to increase a late lead -- in close losses to Georgetown at home and at Pitt earlier this year. West Virginia lost both of those games by one point.

"We were lucky that they missed them, but at the same time you have to capitalize in them and make big plays," said Xavier coach Sean Miller, who played at Blackhawk High School and Pitt.

Xavier junior B.J. Raymond was scoreless in regulation and was 0 for 2 in his 3-point attempts, but he got hot at the right time and saved the Musketeers' season. Raymond finished with eight points and his two late 3-pointers were the difference.

That's because Raymond's first 3-pointer gave the Musketeers their first lead in overtime, 75-74, and his second, on the next possession, gave them a 78-74 advantage and sealed the victory. Raymond is a 40 percent 3-point shooter.

"That second play was supposed to go to [Josh Duncan] but my man left me and I was open and I was thankful I just hit my shot," Raymond said. "I want to thank coach for putting me back in and having confidence in me. You always have to keep your head in the game. I've made that shot a bunch of times so it wasn't a lot of pressure on me.

"I was kind of like a non-factor for the first 40 minutes, but luckily he called a play for me and all I need was one to get me going and that is what happened."

Miller may be coaching his final few games at Xavier as he is rumored to be a strong candidate for the Indiana job. Miller is 93-38 in four seasons at Xavier and led the Musketeers to three consecutive NCAA tournaments. When asked about his future Wednesday, Miller said simply that he was focused on "doing the right thing for Xavier" going into the Sweet 16. ...The Musketeers have been to the Elite Eight only once before, in 2004. ... One of the most gusty performances of the game was turned in by Duncan, who played the final 11 minutes of regulation and five minutes of overtime with four fouls. Duncan finished with 26 points and five rebounds. "I had some silly fouls but I tried not to let it get to me and I knew my team needed me so I just tried to play with confidence," he said.