Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Butler
XU Falls 74-65 to Butler
12.23.08 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 23, 2008
Box Score |
Quotes |
Notes |
Photo Gallery 
CINCINNATI - Junior Derrick Brown scored 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, and grabbed eight rebounds to lead No. 14/12 Xavier in a 74-65 loss to Butler at home in the Cintas Center Tuesday night. With the loss, XU moves to 9-2 on the season while Butler improves to 10-1.
Senior C.J. Anderson was the only other Musketeer to reach double-digit scoring as he added 15 point to go along with six rebounds. The Musketeers tied a school record with 12 blocks in the contest, including a career-high tying three blocks from Anderson. Freshman Kenny Frease added eight points and was a perfect 8-of-8 from the floor.
Xavier shot a mediocre 12-for-22 from the charity stripe for the night while Butler made 26 of its free throws out of 33 attempts. BU's Gordon Hayward was a perfect 10-of-10 from the line and he led all scorers with 19 points.
The Bulldogs held a 29-26 advantage at the break and Xavier was able to tie it at 32-all after a lay-up by Anderson at the 17:54 mark. Matt Howard answered at the other end of the court for Butler with a lay-up of his own to give BU the lead for good. XU pulled to within one twice in the second half but Butler was able to pull away after making 10 consecutive free throws to close out the game.
The Musketeers scored the first bucket of the game with an emphatic dunk from Brown but would not hold the advantage for long. Butler rattled off eight straight points to go ahead, 8-2, less than four minutes into the contest. XU briefly held the lead again late in the first frame, 26-24, following a three-point basket from freshman Brad Reford.
The loss snaps XU's 15-game home winning streak but it has won 29 of its last 31 games played in Cintas Center.
Xavier returns to action New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, with a home match-up against Robert Morris. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. and will be televised on FS Ohio.
