Xavier Falls on Buzzer Beater to Butler on Senior Day

Saturday, March 7

Cincinnati, Ohio

8:30 p.m.

Xavier University

19-12,8-10Big East

Butler

22-9,10-8Big East

Butler

Xavier

Xavier Falls on Buzzer Beater to Butler on Senior Day

03.08.20 | Men's Basketball

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

Senior Tyrique Jones posted his 21st double-double on Saturday night, scoring 14 points and grabbing 13 rebounds

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Butler spoiled Xavier's Senior Day on Saturday as Kamar Baldwin hit a buzzer-beating three pointer, giving the Bulldogs a 72-71 victory in the regular-season finale for both teams. The Musketeers dropped to 19-12 (8-10 BIG EAST), while the Bulldogs improved to 22-9 (10-8 BIG EAST).

Naji Marshall connected on a three-point play with eight seconds left in regulation to give the Musketeers a two-point lead (71-69). On the ensuing possession, Baldwin sank his fifth three pointer of the game to give the Bulldogs the win. The guard finished with a game-high 36 points.

FIRST HALF

• Xavier and Butler combined to be 1-for-14 from the floor to start the game as the Bulldogs held a 2-0 advantage at the under 16-minute timeout (15:16). The Musketeers outscored the Bulldogs, 8-5, over the next four minutes to take their first lead of the game on a Jason Carter three pointer.

• The two teams exchanged leads twice over the next four minutes with the Musketeers holding a 13-12 advantage at the under-eight minute media timeout (7:49). All told, the opening half had 10 lead changes with neither team leading by more than five points. Butler led by two points (29-27) at the break.

• Jason Carter paced the Musketeers with eight points at halftime, while Zach Freemantle added six points. Tyrique Jones led the Musketeers on the glass with eight rebounds as Xavier held a 22-18 advantage on the boards.

• Xavier was held to a .300 field-goal percentage (9-for-30) and was 3-for-14 from behind the arc. Butler hit 46.2 percent of its shots (12-for-26) and was 4-for-6 from three-point range.

SECOND HALF

• Butler opened the second half on a 7-2 run, taking a 36-29 advantage and forcing a Xavier timeout. The Bulldogs took their largest lead of the game, 49-40, at the 12:03 mark before the Musketeers used an 16-6 run on 6-for-8 shooting to regain the lead, 56-55.

• Xavier took its largest lead of the game, 66-62, on a Jason Carter free throw with 2:58 on the clock. Butler used a 7-0 run to regain the lead, 69-66, with one minute left in regulation. Naji Marshall scored five straight points for the Musketeers to put Xavier back on top.

• Naji Marshall scored 15 of his team-high 21 points in the second half. Tyrique Jones also scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half.

NOTABLES

• Tyrique Jones posted his 21st double-double of the season, scoring 14 points and grabbing a team-high 13 rebounds. The forward finished the game 6-for-10 from the floor.

• Naji Marshall led four Musketeers in double figures with 21 points on 7-for-14 shooting. He added a team-high five assists to go along iwth four rebounds and two steals.

• Jason Carter scored a Xavier career-high 17 points on 5-for-8 shooting. He added two rebounds.

• KyKy Tandy chipped in 10 points, two assists, one rebound and one steal in 27 minutes of action off the bench.

• Butler won the battle on the glass, 38-34, and scored nine more points off of turnovers (19-10). The Bulldogs also had three more second-chance points (15-12).

• All told, the game featured 18 lead changes and four ties. Neither team led by more than nine points in the contest.

UP NEXT

• Xavier will be the No. 7 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament. The Musketeers take on No. 10 seed DePaul in the opening round on Wednesday, March 11 at 9:30 p.m. from Madison Square Garden.

HIGHLIGHTS