Freemantle, Jones Post Double-Doubles in 63-51 Win Over Butler

Sunday, February 21

Cincinnati, Ohio

7:00 p.m.

Xavier University

12-4,5-4Big East

Butler

7-13,6-11Big East

Butler

Xavier

Freemantle, Jones Post Double-Doubles in 63-51 Win Over Butler

02.21.21 | Men's Basketball

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Freshman Colby Jones scored 13 points and pulled down 11 rebounds on Sunday night

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Zach Freemantle and Colby Jones both posted double-doubles on Sunday night, leading the Musketeers to a 63-51 win over Butler at Cintas Center. Xavier improved to 12-4 (5-4 BIG EAST), while Butler dropped to 7-13 (6-11 BIG EAST).

FIRST HALF

• Xavier jumped out to a 16-6 lead at the 11:44 mark behind a .538 field-goal percentage (7-for-13). Zach Freemantle scored seven of the Musketeers' points on 3-for-4 shooting.

• Butler responded with a 13-5 run, closing within two points (21-19) and forcing a Xavier timeout at the 7:01 mark. The Bulldogs scored five unanswered points coming out of the timeout to take their largest lead of the half, 24-21.

• The Musketeers responded with nine straight points capped by a KyKy Tandy three pointer, taking a 30-24 advantage with 2:47 left in the half. Xavier outscored Butler, 7-3, in the closing minutes to take a two-point lead (33-31) into the locker room.

• Zach Freemantle led the Musketeers with seven points at the break, while Colby Jones chopped in six points and a team-high four rebounds. Both teams pulled down 19 rebounds.

SECOND HALF

• Butler hit its opening basket in the second half, tying the game at 33. Xavier went on a 12-5 run on 5-for-10 shooting, taking a 45-38 lead with 9:56 on the clock.

• Butler closed within four points (49-45) with 5:10 left in regulation before the Musketeers closed the game by scoring 14 of the final 20 points. Xavier was 3-for-5 from the floor in the final five minutes and 8-for-9 from the foul line.

• Defensively, the Musketeers held the Bulldogs to a .188 field-goal percentage (6-for-32) in the second half and forced seven turnovers.

NOTABLES

• Zach Freemantle scored a game-high 17 points on 5-for-9 shooting. He also pulled down 10 rebounds and had two blocks. The sophomore forward has posted a double-double in three straight games (now has five career double-doubles).

• Freshman Colby Jones posted his first career double-double, scoring 13 points on 5-for-8 shooting to go along with a team-high 11 rebounds. The guard added four assists and a game-high four steals.

• Jason Carter rounded out the Xavier double-figure scorers with 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting. He added three rebounds, two assists and one steal.

• Senior Paul Scruggs dished out a game-high six assists, while adding four rebounds, two points, a block and a steal. Dwon Odom chipped in eight points and three assists.

• Daniel Ramsey scored four points on 2-for-2 shooting in five minutes of action off the bench. He added two rebounds.

• Butler won the battle on the glass, 42-49. Xavier held a 17-9 advantage in points off of turnovers and scored five more second-chance points (11-6).

• Xavier held the Bulldogs to a .295 field-goal percentage, the second-lowest percentage by an opponent this season (and lowest percentage by a BIG EAST opponent). The Musketeers held Oakland to a .232 clip in the team's season opener on Nov. 25.

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at Providence. Tip-off is slated for 9 p.m. with the game being aired nationally on FS1.

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