Paul Scruggs Leads Musketeers to Road Win at Butler

Saturday, January 30

Indianapolis, Ind.

5:30 p.m.

Xavier University

11-2,4-2Big East

Butler

5-9,4-7Big East

Xavier

Butler

Paul Scruggs Leads Musketeers to Road Win at Butler

01.30.21 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

Xavier moves to 11-2 on the season

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

INDIANAPOLIS - Paul Scruggs led three Musketeers in double figures as Xavier picked up a 68-55 road win at Butler. Scruggs had 24 points on 9-13 shooting, while Adam Kunkel added 15 and Nate Johnson added 14. Xavier moved to 11-2 overall and 4-2 in BIG EAST play.

FIRST HALF

• Paul Scruggs' went 4-of-4 from the field, including a pair of threes, for 11 points in the first eight minutes of action, helping Xavier lead by as many as seven in the early going.
• Nate Johnson started 3-of-3 from the field, with a pair of threes, for eight points to push the Xavier lead out to as many 15, 29-14, with just over eight minutes to play before halftime.
• Adam Kunkel went 4-5 from the field for nine points in the first half in his first start as a Musketeer.
• C.J. Wilcher added five for Xavier in the first half.
• The Musketeers led 37-25 at the break.
• The Musketeers shot 52 percent from the floor in the first half, including 6-of-12 from three.
• Xavier held a 19-14 advantage on rebounds, with Zach Freemantle leading the was with five boards.

SECOND HALF

• Xavier opened the second half on a 10-2 run, featuring threes from Adam Kunkel and Nate Johnson to lead by as many as 20, 47-27, in the first five minutes of the half.
• After the Musketeers led by 20, Butler responded with a 13-0 run to pull within seven, 47-40, with just over 11 minutes remaining.
• The Bulldogs pulled as close as four before five straight points from Paul Scruggs pushed the lead back out to nine with under six to play.
• Xavier closed out the game on a 9-2 run to seal the 68-55 win.
• Paul Scruggs had 13 points after the break to lead the Musketeers.
• Adam Kunkel and Nate Johnson each added six after the break.

NOTABLES

• Paul Scruggs finished with 24 points on 9-13 shooting from the floor, including a 2-of-2 mark from three. This is the fourth game of the season where Scruggs scored 20 or more points.
• Adam Kunkel scored 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor, including going 3-of-3 from outside the arc in his first career start as a Musketeer.
• Nate Johnson finished with 14 points, connecting on four three pointers.
• Xavier finished shooting 51 percent from the floor, including 50 percent from behind the line, while holding Butler to 34 percent
• Zach Freemantle grabbed 10 boards to lead Xavier as the Musketeers out-rebounded Butler, 35-33.

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action on Wednesday, February 3 at 5:00 p.m. with a trip to DePaul.

PRESS CONFERENCE