Musketeers Fall to No. 22 Butler on Sunday

Sunday, February 26

Cincinnati, Ohio

3:30 p.m.

Xavier University

18-11, 8-8

Butler

23-6, 12-5

Butler

Xavier

02.26.17 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)Postgame Notes, Butler

Musketeers close out home schedule on Wednesday

By: Laura Topp, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – After 17 lead changes, Xavier fell to No. 22 Butler 88-79 on Sunday afternoon at Cintas Center. Xavier falls to 8-8 in conference play and 18-11 overall. The Musketeers had four score in double figures led by Trevon Bluiett's 21 points, five rebounds and three assists. Malcolm Bernard also had a Xavier-career high of 13 points.

FIRST HALF

Bluiett led Xavier with nine points in the first 20 minutes including taking the ball coast-to-coast, with a step back jumper putting Xavier up 19-17 at the 10-minute mark.

Bluiett's jumper was part of a 13-2 run midway first half to reclaim the lead 22-17.

The Musketeers trailed 38-37 at the break.

Xavier out-scored the Bulldogs 20-16 with points in the paint in the first half and out-rebounded the Bulldogs 16-14.

SECOND HALF

Xavier opened the second half with Sean O'Mara finding freshman Quentin Goodin with the back-door cut for the one-handed dunk over a Bulldog defender.

The Musketeers then went on a 7-2 run fueled by J.P. Macura steal for a fast break dunk.

The Bulldogs responded with a 9-1 run going into the final media timeout before winning by a final margin of nine, 88-79.

Xavier shot 77 percent from the free throw line with Bluiett and Bernard shooting 100 percent.

The Musketeers had 11 turnovers to the Bulldog's seven resulting in 19 Bulldog points.

Macura finished with 17 points and three assists including finding O'Mara on the baseline for the two-handed slam.

NOTABLE

Bluiett finished with 21 points, his 13th 20-plus point game of the season.

Bernard finished the game with a career high 13 points, four rebounds, and matched his career high in steals with three.

Goodin finished the game with 11 points, matching his career high of six rebounds and led in assists with seven.

UPCOMING

The Musketeers close out the 2016-17 home season as they face the Marquette Golden Eagles on Wednesday March 1 at 9 p.m. The game will be shown on FS1. They then head to DePaul to close out the regular season on Saturday, March 4 at 2 p.m. ET.