Xavier University Athletics
Post Game Notes
12.23.08 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 23, 2008
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No. 14 AP/12 ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll Xavier University Musketeers
vs.
Butler University Bulldogs
December 23, 2008
Game Notes
The Butler Bulldogs (10-1) upset No 14/12 Xavier (10-2), 74-65, snapping the Musketeers’ 15-game home winning streak. Leading Xavier was Derrick Brown who scored 17 points and C.J. Anderson who added 15. Brown collected eight rebounds and five Musketeers had two assists apiece. Butler was led by Matt Howard and Gordon Hayward who each scored 19 points, while Willie Veasley added 12 points and Ronald Nored chipped in 10. Howard grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds while Hayward collected 10 boards. Shelvin Mack and Nored each had three assists.
Tonight’s loss marked the first time XU has lost at Cintas Center since falling to #12 Tennessee, 82-75, December 22, 2007, snapping a 15-game home win streak. The loss also marks the third year in a row XU has dropped its final game at home before the Christmas break. XU lost to Bucknell, 68-67, December 20, 2006. The back-to-back losses for the XU are its first since losing at Arizona State, 77-55, on December 15, 2008, just prior to the Tennessee setback.
Xavier tied its season high with 12 blocked shots. The Musketeers also had 12 blocks against Ohio (12-10-08).
Xavier attempted a season-high 24 3-pointers, connecting on just seven.
Despite the loss, XU held Butler to just 35.1 percent shooting (20-for-57) for the game. It was the eighth game in 11 this season that XU has held its opponent to under 40 percent shooting from the field. For the season XU is holding its opponents to just 37.7 percent shooting. B
utler established season highs for both free throws made (26) and free throws attempted (33). The previous highs were 20 makes at Youngstown State (12-6-08) and 25 attempted at Youngstown State and against Ball State (11-19-08).
XU’s Derrick Brown matched his career high with three 3-pointers. He also hit on three against Ohio (12-10-08).
XU’s Kenny Frease had a career-high four field goals. His previous high was three against IPFW (11-14-08).
XU’s C.J. Anderson tied his Xavier career high with three blocked shots. He also had three blocks against La Salle (2-2-08). He had four blocks on several different occasions while at Manhattan.
BU’s Matt Howard grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds. His previous high was 12 against Michigan (11-21-07) and Detroit (12-6-07). He also recorded his fifth career double-double with 19 points.
BU’s Gordon Hayward scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to record his first career double-double. He also was a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line, establishing career highs for makes and attempts, and had a career-high four blocked shots.
BU’s Ronald Nored scored a career-high 10 points. His previous high was seven points at Cleveland State (12-10-08).
Runs
Trailing 17-9 at 10:15 of the first half, XU went on a 17-7 run to take a 26-24 lead at 2:22. Dante Jackson hit a pair of three-pointers to lead the Musketeer attack.
Up Next: The Musketeers finish the 2008 portion on their schedule on Wednesday, December 31, when they welcome the Robert Morris Colonials to Cintas Center. XU leads the all-time series 2-0, but the teams have not met since the December 4, 1989. In that contest, the visiting Musketeers posted a 77-70 win. Following the New Year’s Eve game, XU goes on the road to face the Virginia Cavaliers on January 3.
