Box Score
A huge second half for No. 12 Butler included 21 points from freshman Kamar Baldwin and a 29-of-32 performance from the free throw line as the Bulldogs defeated No. 15 Xavier, 83-78, Saturday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Butler put up 58 points in the second half to overcome a 31-25 halftime deficit, shooting 56 percent from the field and committing only two turnovers in the final 20 minutes of play. The 58 points were a season-high for Butler in a half following the season-low 25.

"Our guys just made really important plays down the stretch today," said coach Chris Holtmann. "We weathered some difficult moments and were able to dictate things offensively more in the second half. I have the utmost confidence in our guys in these late-game situations, and they stepped up and made free throws."

Baldwin posted career-highs with 21 points and nine rebounds. All 21 of his points came after the halftime break. He led four Bulldogs in double figures, joined by Andrew Chrabascz (16), Kelan Martin (13), and Kethan Savage (10).

In front of a sold-out Hinkle Fieldhouse crowd, Butler won its 13^th consecutive home game and improved to 15-3 on the season and 4-2 in BIG EAST play. Xavier is 13-4 (3-2 BIG EAST). The Bulldogs are now 5-1 against ranked teams this season.

Butler's final 13 points came at the free throw line as the Bulldogs made 13 of 14 attempts over the final 2:18. With Butler leading 81-78 with three seconds to go, Baldwin stole the in-bounds pass to take away Xavier's final tying possession. He hit the ensuing two free throws for the final score.

Butler took its first lead of the game at 20-18 with 7:10 to play in the first half. Xavier would score the next 11 points and take a 31-25 halftime lead.

After the break, Butler scored the first nine points of the second half to take a 34-31 lead. Xavier's only lead of the second half came at 37-36 with 15:26 to play. A 9-2 run that included seven points from Baldwin would turn a 44-43 Butler lead into an eight-point advantage with 9:36 to play.

Xavier refused to go quietly as the Musketeers traded baskets for Butler free throws down the stretch. A Malcolm Bernard stepback three-pointer with 37 seconds to play pulled Xavier within one at 73-72. Both teams only scored from the free throw line from that point as Butler converted 10 to Xavier's six.

Butler out-rebounded Xavier, 31-29. The Musketeers were led by 22 from Edmond Sumner, who like Baldwin had all of his points after the intermission. Xavier shot 49 percent from the field, just ahead of Butler's 46-percent mark.

The Bulldogs return to action Monday, hosting Marquette at noon. The match-up is the first of five games on FS1 as part of the BIG EAST Marathon on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. A limited number of tickets remain available for the contest at Hinkle Fieldhouse.