Butler finished off the regular season with a convincing 5-2 win over BIG EAST rival Xavier Saturday afternoon in Cincinnati. The Bulldogs improve to 15-5 on the spring and 3-1 against BIG EAST opponents.

After dropping the doubles point to the host Musketeers, the Bulldogs responded by taking five of the six singles matches. Four of the five wins came in straight sets.

Aviv Ben Shabat won 6-3, 6-4 at the No. 1 spot, while Mason Dragos posted almost an identical score (6-4, 6-4) on the No. 2 court against Jeremy Schneider. Spencer Lang (No. 4) and Lope Adelakun also won in straight sets. Senior Mikheil Khmiadashvili dropped the first set on the third court to Jack Dykema, but came back to win in a deciding third set.

The result avenges a 4-1 loss to Xavier a season ago.

Butler will learn its BIG EAST Tournament opponent on Monday as the BIG EAST committee seeds the event. The 2017 championships begin Friday in Cayce, S.C.

Singles:
1. Aviv Ben Shabat (BU) def. Matt Bishop (XU) 6-3, 6-4
2. Mason Dragos (BU) def. Jeremy Schneider (XU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Mikheil Khmiadashvili (BU) def. Jack Dykema (XU) 5-7, 6-2, 6-4
4. Spencer Lang (BU) def. Trent Smith (XU) 6-2, 6-2
5. Gabriel Araujo (XU) def. Ari Gerstein (BU) 7-5, 6-3
6. Temilope Adelakun (BU) def. Connor LaFavre (XU) 6-3, 7-6(3)

Doubles:
1. Gabriel Araujo/Matt Bishop (XU) def. Spencer Lang/Mason Dragos (BU) 6-3
2. Mikheil Khmiadashvili/Aviv Ben Shabat (BU) def. Jeremy Schneider/ Conor LaFavre (XU) 6-2
3. Trent Smith/Jack Dykema (XU) def. Ari Gerstein/Temilope Adelakun (BU) 6-1