No. 5/4 Xavier Uses Blistering First Half Shooting to Beat Bulldogs

Saturday, February 13

Indianapolis, Ind.

2:30 P.M.

Xavier University

22-3 (10-3BE)

Butler University

17-8 (6-7BE)

Xavier

Butler

Photo by: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5/4 Xavier Uses Blistering First Half Shooting to Beat Bulldogs

02.13.16 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Musketeers hit on 65 percent from the floor before the break, including 8-of-11 from outside

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 5/4 Xavier Musketeers used a blistering first half to pull away from the Butler Bulldogs, winning 74-57 at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Saturday. The Musketeers move to 22-3 overall and 10-3 in BIG EAST play with the win.

J.P. Macura led the Musketeers with 13 points and Remy Abell added 12 as the two combined to shoot 10-of-16 from the floor.

Edmond Sumner also finished with 12 points. Trevon Bluiett's 11 points made him the fourth Musketeer in double figures.

The Musketeers hit on four of their first five shots from the floor, including a pair of threes, but the Bulldogs grabbed two early offensive boards for four second-chance points to take a 12-10 lead at the first media timeout.

Out of the break, Myles Davis hit his second three of the game to give Xavier its first lead of the game, 13-12, with 12:45 remaining in the first half.

After the Musketeers took their first lead, the Bulldogs put together a 9-0 lead to take a 21-13 lead, the largest BU lead of the game.

A three from Abell ended the Butler run, and a basket for Sean O'Mara sparked a 10-2 run for the Musketeers, tying the game at 23 with 10 minutes remaining before halftime.

The Bulldogs hit on 6-of-9 to open the game, but cooled off, hitting only three of the next 15 shots from the floor, allowing the Musketeers to sneak ahead, 27-25.

BU briefly retook the lead before Xavier scored 12 unanswered to take a 10-point lead, 35-25, with 3:34 remaining before the break. During that run, Xavier held BU scoreless for nearly five minutes.

Butler would inch closer before the Musketeers outscored the Bulldogs 8-2 in the final three minutes of the half, taking its largest lead of the half into the break at 14, 43-29.

Abell led the Musketeers with 10 points in the first half. Davis added nine on 3-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc. The Musketeers finished shooting 65 percent from the floor, including hitting 8-of-11 from beyond the arc.

After the Bulldogs hit on six of their first nine shots from the floor, they shot only six of 26 for the rest of the half.

Xavier owned a 17-15 advantage on the boards overall, led by five for James Farr, but the Bulldogs grabbed seven offensive boards to outscore Xavier 14-0 on second chance points before the break.

Out of the break, Butler chipped away at the Musketeer lead, climbing to within seven with 14:10 remaining before a 9-1 run for the Musketeers extended XU's lead out to 15, 56-41.

After getting the Xavier lead down to 10 with 10 minutes remaining in the game, a nearly four-minute scoring drought for the Bulldogs allowed the Musketeers to score eight unanswered, extending the Xavier lead to 64-56 with five minutes to play.

Xavier led by as many as 18 in the final minutes before winning by a final margin of 17, 74-57.

The Musketeer finished shooting nearly 57 percent from the floor, including 9-of-18 from outside while holding the Bulldogs to just 33 percent on field goals.
Xavier owned a 34-30 advantage overall on the boards, led by Farr's 12 rebounds, but the Bulldogs did grab 11 offensive boards for 17 second-chance points to two offensive boards for zero second chance points for the Musketeers.

Xavier returns to Cintas Center to host Providence on Wednesday, Feb. 17, for GE Aviation Military Appreciation Night. The Musketeers and Friars are set for a 7:00 p.m. tip on FOX Sports 1.

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