In a game that featured huge swings of momentum and scoring runs back and forth, Xavier was able to post an 85-71 win over Butler Tuesday night at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
 
The Bulldogs fought all the way back from a 19-point deficit to briefly take the lead in the second half before a final run by the Musketeers closed the contest.
 
The Musketeers are now 9-8 (3-3 BIG EAST), while the Bulldogs fall to 11-7 (2-5 BIG EAST).
 
HOW IT TRANSPIRED:
 

• Pierre Brooks II started the game by making four of his first five attempts from the field, including a trifecta of three-pointers, as Butler took an early 16-8 lead over the first four minutes of the game.
• A prolonged 24-2 run by Xavier, which included 12 straight misses by Butler and a scoreless stretch that exceeded six minutes, gave the home team a 35-19 lead with 8:02 remaining in the half.
• Butler responded with the next eight points to cut the lead in half at 35-27.
• Another Xavier run gave the Musketeers their largest lead of the first half at 46-27 and an eventual 46-32 halftime advantage.
• A 20-3 Butler run capped by 11 straight points from Posh Alexander (nine on three-pointers) gave the Bulldogs a 60-58 lead with 11:01 remaining in the game.
• Xavier would respond with the next 13 points to take control of the game at 71-60.
• The lead would never get smaller than seven over the closing stretch.

 
OF NOTE:

• Butler's Alexander matched his season-high with 21 points; he added five assists, four rebounds and four steals.
• Brooks had a team-high 22 points, his fourth 20-point game of the season.
• Butler committed only six turnovers, the team's ninth this season with 10 or fewer.
• Jalen Thomas had his third double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
• The Bulldogs struggled from the field, shooting only 35 percent.
• Xavier countered by shooting 46 percent from the field.
• Desmond Claude (26) and Dayvion McKnight (20) paced the Musketeers, who also got 15 points from the team's leading scorer on the season Quincy Olivari.
• Xavier won the rebounding battle, 43-35.
• Xavier had a 30-11 advantage in fast break points.
• Butler coach Thad Matta spent three seasons leading the Xavier program. From 2001-04, Matta posted a 78-23 mark and made three NCAA Tournament appearances.

UP NEXT: The Bulldogs return to Hinkle Fieldhouse Saturday to face DePaul. Tickets are still available for that contest, which will air on FS1.