Box Score

Trailing 71-69 with 5:43 to play, No. 22 Butler scored 15 of the next 18 points over the next four minutes to secure an 88-79 win on the road at Xavier Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati. For the Bulldogs, it was their fourth consecutive win to improve to 23-6 on the season. The result also secured Butler the No. 2 seed in the upcoming BIG EAST Tournament with a 12-5 record leading into the regular season finale.

Kelan Martin led the Bulldogs with 25 points and seven rebounds, hitting nine of 15 shots from the field, including a three-pointer that gave Butler its final lead at 74-71. Sunday marked Martin's tenth 20-point game of the season and the 25 points were his best performance in a BIG EAST game this season.

"This is a really tough place to play, so to come out of here with a win speaks to our guys and our play down the stretch," said coach Chris Holtmann. "Players win games, and our guys came up big today. We have to get better defensively, but we did get some key stops during that final run."

Butler is now 2-5 against Xavier at the Cintas Center, picking up its first win in Cincinnati since Dec. 23, 2008, when the class that included Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack were freshmen. Sunday's win caps a week that also saw the Bulldogs win at No. 2 Villanova, ending the Wildcats' 48-game winning streak at The Pavilion.

The first half was a back-and-forth battle that featured seven lead changes. Kamar Baldwin's jumper at the horn gave the Bulldogs a 38-37 lead after 20 minutes. The beginning of the second half was much of the same that featured an additional 10 lead changes until Martin's three-pointer at 74-71 with 4:48 to play.

During the decisive run, Butler made six of its nine attempts and had four steals that keyed several transition baskets. Baldwin (five) and Kethan Savage combined for all nine of Butler's steals.

Baldwin had 17 points, five rebounds and three assists. Andrew Chrabascz had 11 points and a team-best six assists. Seven Bulldogs scored at least eight points.

The Bulldogs shot 58 percent in the second half and 55 percent for the game. Butler committed only seven turnovers, including only two after the intermission.

Xavier (18-11, 8-8 BIG EAST) shot 48 percent and was led by Trevon Bluiett's 21 points.

The Bulldogs have a week off before the regular season finale, which is a Saturday home game against Seton Hall. The 2:30 p.m. tip will air nationally on FOX. A Senior Day recognition for the team's six seniors will follow the game.