Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
11-5 (2-2BE)
Butler
12-5 (2-2BE)
Men's Basketball Falls, 88-76, at Butler on Saturday
01.10.15 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 10, 2015
Final Stats | Photo Gallery | Press Conference
INDIANAPOLIS - The Xavier men's basketball team moves to 11-5 on the season (2-2 BIG EAST) after falling, 88-76, at Butler on Saturday. Senior Matt Stainbrook scored 17 in the second half to lead the Musketeers with 21 points, matching his career high, but second-chance points helped the Bulldogs (12-6; 2-2 BIG EAST) pull away late.
The Musketeers controlled the opening minutes of the game, building a 6-3 lead in the first five minutes on 3-of-5 shooting while holding the Bulldogs to just one made shot from the floor before the first media break. Butler countered by hitting five of its next nine shots, taking its first lead at the 13:17 mark, 9-8.
The Bulldogs pushed the lead out to as many as four in the first half, going up 25-21, with less than seven minute remaining before halftime. Sophomore Jalen Reynolds came off the bench to provide a spark for the Musketeers, leading the Musketeers in the first half with seven points in nine minutes.
Xavier retook the lead, 28-26, at the 4:56 mark on a Bluiett three pointer. The Musketeers converted on 11-of-14 free throws to help take a 31-29 lead into the final two minute of the half, but the Bulldogs hit five free throws in the final minutes to send the Musketeers into the locker room down, 34-31.
Reynolds finished the half 2-of-2 from the floor and shooting 75 percent from the line. James Farr added six points, and Matt Stainbrook grabbed a team-high four rebounds.
The Musketeers held the Bulldogs to 9-of-27 shooting in the first half but were out-rebounded, 17-14, including six offensive boards that led to 10 second-chance points for the Bulldogs - against just two for the Musketeers.
To open the second half, the Bulldogs immediately extended the lead, hitting a three pointer 10 seconds into the period to go up 37-31. Faced with its largest deficit of the game to that point, Xavier looked to its seniors for offensive production. A three pointer from Dee Davis cut the lead to 37-34. After scoring just four points in the first half, Stainbrook added another eight for the Musketeers in the first three minutes of the second to help Xavier retake the lead, 42-41, with 17:13 remaining in the game.
The Musketeers took a two-point lead on a James Farr three pointer, but a seven-point outburst from Butler's Kameron Woods helped the Bulldogs retake the lead, going up 50-47 with 12:28 remaining.
Stainbrook continued to lead Xavier offensively, scoring five straight points to keep the Musketeers within two possessions as the game entered its final 11 minutes. Remy Abell's second three pointer of the day cut the Bulldogs lead to one, 56-55, but Butler responded with back-to-back threes of its own, going up seven with nine minutes remaining in the game. The Bulldogs continued to extend their lead, taking a 10 point advantage, 73-63, with five minutes left in the game.
The Musketeers would get as close as eight, 73-65, in the final minutes of the game, but were unable to get any closer, falling by a final score of 88-76. Stainbrook scored 17 in the second half to match his career high of 21, set against Wake Forest on Dec. 28, 2013. Abell finished with 15 points and Reynolds scored 11 for the Musketeers. Davis also finished with 11 points and seven assists. The Musketeers finished shooting over 46 percent from the floor, but the Bulldogs hit for 48.1 percent and converted on 32-of-42 free throws to get the win.
Stainbrook, Reynolds, Farr and Trevon Bluiett each grabbed five rebounds as the Musketeers were beat on the glass, 37-26, with Butler's Woods grabbing a game-high 11 boards. Of Butler's 37 rebounds, 13 came on the offensive end, leading to 21 second-chance points.
Andrew Chrabascz led the Bulldogs with 19 points, including hitting 7-of-9 free throws.
Xavier stays on the road for its next matchup, traveling to Villanova to face the No. 8 Wildcats on Wednesday Jan. 14 at 9:00 p.m. The game will be televised live on FOX Sports 1. A radio broadcast will be available from 700WLW. Stay tuned to GoXavier.com for more information.
