Men's Basketball's Five-Game Win Streak Ends at Butler

Tuesday, March 5

Indianapolis, Ind.

6 p.m.

Xavier University

16-14

Butler

16-14

Xavier

Butler

Men's Basketball's Five-Game Win Streak Ends at Butler

03.05.19 | Men's Basketball

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

Tyrique Jones and Paul Scruggs lead Musketeers with 13 points each

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

INDIANAPOLIS - Xavier men's basketball's five-game win streak came to an end on Tuesday evening, as the Musketeers fell, 71-66, at Butler. Tyrique Jones and Paul Scruggs each scored 13 to lead four Musketeers in double figures as Xavier moved to 16-14 overall and 8-9 in BIG EAST play.

FIRST HALF

Xavier jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first three minutes with five early points from Paul Scruggs.
Back-to-back turnovers by the Musketeers allowed Butler to pull back within three, 9-6, before a Zach Hankins dunk and Quentin Goodin three pushed Xavier's lead to eight, 14-6, with 15 remaining before halftime.
Butler responded with a 10-0 run to take the lead, 16-14, with just over 10 minutes remaining in the half.
The two teams traded one-possession leads until a 7-2 run for Butler put the Bulldogs ahead five, 35-30, going into the final 30 seconds of the half.
Goodin hit a basket at the buzzer to set the halftime score at 35-32 in favor of Butler.
Marshall and Goodin each had seven in the first half to lead the Musketeers.
Butler led Xavier, 18-15 on the boards, with Hankins leading Xavier with four.
Both teams committed six turnovers but Xavier outscored Butler, 10-5, on points off turnovers.

SECOND HALF

Butler hit a basket to open the second half, extending the lead to five, 37-32, before Xavier scored five straight to tie the game.
Over the next five minutes, Butler maintained a two-to-four point lead before a Welage three pointer, his second of a game, and Naji Marshall basket gave the Musketeers the lead, 47-46, with 11 minutes to play.
Xavier held a one-point lead when Butler went on a 9-2 run to take a six-point lead, 58-52, with seven minutes remaining.
Xavier would get as close at three in the final six minutes, but Butler pushed the lead out to as many as eight in the final seconds before five straight points from Paul Scruggs cut the lead to three, 69-66, with five seconds remaining.
Butler hit two free throws in the closing seconds to secure the 71-66 win.
Jones led the Musketeers with nine points in the second half.
Paul Scruggs added eight points in the second half.
Xavier grabbed 21 rebounds to 16 for Butler, with Jones, Marshall and Zach Hankins each grabbing five.

NOTABLES

Tyrique Jones finished with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor.
Paul Scruggs finished with 13 points, with five coming in the final minute.
Zach Hankins added 12 points for the Musketeers
Naji Marshall finished with 11 points.
Hankins led the Musketeers with nine rebounds as Xavier held a 36-34 advantage on the boards. Jones and Marshall each grabbed eight.
Xavier had 15 turnovers to 10 for Butler, but out-scored the Bulldogs, 13-11, in points off turnovers.

UP NEXT

Xavier closes out the regular season on Saturday, March 9, hosting St. John's at 5:00 p.m. for Senior Day. The Musketeers and the Red Storm will face off on FOX.

HIGHLIGHTS