Box Score Xavier shot 56 percent from the field to down visiting Butler, 88-69, Saturday afternoon at the Cintas Center. The #6 Musketeers utilized five players in double figures to move to 13-1 on the season and 1-1 in BIG EAST play. Senior Roosevelt Jones led Butler with 14 points and six assists for Butler, which is now 11-3 (0-2) on the season.
A late 9-2 run in the first half gave Xavier a 45-35 halftime advantage, but the Bulldogs chipped away at that lead early in the half. A
Kellen Dunham three-pointer with 12:29 to play cut Xavier's led to just three at 55-52, but the home team would respond with 13 of the next 14 points over the next five minutes to push the lead to 68-53.
In addition to Jones and his 14 points, he was joined by four other Bulldogs in double figures. Kelan Martin had 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while Tyler Lewis (10), Andrew Chrabascz (10) and Dunham (13, 3-of-5 from three-point range) all came off the bench for the first time this season.
Butler shot 39 percent from the field compared to the 31-of-55 mark for the Musketeers. Xavier held a slight 36-31 rebounding advantage but scored 42 of its point in the paint.
Remy Abell led Xavier with 21 points, including 14 in the first half.
The Bulldogs return to action Tuesday night in Chicago with a BIG EAST match-up against DePaul. The 8 p.m. (Eastern, 7 p.m. Chicago/Central) start will be broadcast on FSN networks throughout the country, including FOX Sports Midwest in Indiana.
