No. 5 Xavier Picks Up Road Win at Butler in Overtime

Tuesday, February 6

Indianapolis, Ind.

6:30 p.m.

Xavier University

22-3, 10-2BE

Butler

17-8, 7-5BE

OT 1

Xavier

Butler

No. 5 Xavier Picks Up Road Win at Butler in Overtime

02.06.18 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Season Stats (PDF)Box Score (PDF)

Trevon Bluiett scored 26 to lead the Musketeers

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

INDIANAPOLIS – No. 5 Xavier held off Butler in overtime at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Tuesday night. Xavier jumped out to an 18-point lead in the first half, but the Bulldogs climbed back in, taking a lead in the second half before heading to overtime. Naji Marshall and Trevon Bluiett each scored six in overtime to secure the Xavier win.

Bluiett led four Musketeers in double figures as Xavier moved to 22-3 overall and 10-2 in BIG EAST play. Butler moved to 17-8 overall and 7-5 in conference play.

FIRST HALF

Butler jump out to a 9-4 lead in the first three minutes before Xavier ripped of a 25-2 run to lead 29-11 with just under 10 minutes remaining in that half. The Musketeers held the Bulldogs scoreless for nearly five minutes during the run.
Kerem Kanter scored nine for the Musketeers during that stretch and Bluiett added a pair of threes.
After building an 18-point lead, the largest of the game for the Musketeers, Butler responded with a 13-3 run of its own to cut the Xavier lead down to eight, matching the closest the Bulldogs would get before going into the break with the Musketeers ahead 40-30.
Kanter scored 11 in the first half, going a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor. Sean O'Mara added eight, also going 3-of-3 from the floor. All eight Musketeers who played in the first half scored.
The Musketeers shot 66.7 percent from the floor, including connection on 5-of-8 from outside, while holding Butler to 45.8 percent from the floor and just 3-of-12 from outside.
Quentin Goodin led the Musketeers with four rebounds as Xavier owned a 12-10 advantage on the boards.

SECOND HALF

Butler opened the second half with a three to cut the Xavier lead to seven, 40-33, the closest the game had been since the 14:13 mark in the first half when the Musketeers led 17-11.
The Bulldogs steadily chipped away at the Xavier advantage, outscoring Xavier 22-10 over the first six minutes of the half to retake the lead, 52-50.
Butler led by as many as four over the next six minutes. The Musketeers pulled into a tie twice, retaking the lead, 69-68, on a Trevon Bluiett free throw with just under six minutes to play.
In the closing minute of the game, Xavier built the lead out to as many as seven, including taking an 82-75 lead into the final minute of regulation.
Xavier held on to the advantage until a three from Butler with 13 seconds remaining tied the game at 84-84.
Kerem Kanter's shot in the final seconds missed to send the game to overtime.
Trevon Bluiett had 14 points in the second half. Kerem Kanter added nine.
Xavier held a 13-11 advantage on the boards in the second half, led by four for Sean O'Mara.

OVERTIME

A Naji Marshall three gave Xavier the lead to open the overtime period.
Butler would respond with four points to take an 88-87 lead but five straight from Xavier gave the lead and extended it to four going into the final minute.
A Bluiett three pointer and three free throws from Naji Marshall push the Xavier lead out to eight in the final seconds before a BU three set the final score at 98-93 in favor of the Musketeers.
Bluiett and Marshall each scored six in the overtime period.

NOTABLES

Trevon Bluiett led the Musketeers with 26 points, including 20 after the halftime break.
Kerem Kanter finished with 22 points, connecting on 10-of-11 on two-point field goals for the game.
Naji Marshall finished with 15 points.
Sean O'Mara scored 14 points, going 5-of-5 from the floor and 4-of-5 from the free throw line.
Xavier's bigs, Kerem Kanter and Sean O'Mara, combined to go 12-of-12 from the floor to open the game.
The Musketeers shot 59 percent from the game and went 10-of-21 from beyond the arc.
Xavier out-rebounded Butler, 30-24, led by six each for Quentin Goodin and Marshall.
Xavier moved to 6-2 on the road and 2-0 in overtime games this season.

UP NEXT

Xavier remains on the road this weekend, traveling to Omaha, Neb., to face Creighton on Saturday, Feb. 10. The Musketeers and the Bluejays face off at 2:30 p.m EST on FOX.

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