Claude Sets New Career High, McKnight Scores 20 in Win Over Butler

Tuesday, January 16

Cincinnati, Ohio

6:30 p.m.

Xavier University

9-8,3-3Big East

Butler

11-7,2-5Big East

Butler

Xavier

Claude Sets New Career High, McKnight Scores 20 in Win Over Butler

01.16.24 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photos Box Score Season Stats

Claude finishes with 26 points as Xavier takes 85-71 win at Cintas Center

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - In a game of big runs, Xavier men's basketball a second-half scoring streak to pull away from Butler late, taking the 85-71 win over the Bulldogs at Cintas Center on Tuesday evening.

The Musketeers moved to 9-8 (3-3 BIG EAST) with the win, while Butler dropped to 11-7 (2-5 BIG EAST).

After trading baskets for the opening minutes, Butler went on an 8-0 run to move in front, leading by as many as eight in the first four minutes. An 8-0 Xavier run put the Musketeers in front, and another 16-0 run for the Musketeers extended the Xavier lead to double digits, with Xavier outscoring Butler 24-2 over a seven minute stretch. The Musketeers led by as many as 19 before going into halftime up 46-32.

After scoring 10 of Xavier's first 13 points, Dayvion McKnight finished the first half with 14, and Desmond Claude added 12 before the break. The Musketeers connected on 56.7 percent of its first half field goals, including going 7-13 from three in the first half, while limiting Butler 30.3 percent shooting overall with a 3-9 mark from three in the first 20 minutes.

In the second half, Xavier maintained its double-digit lead for the first give minutes before a 20-3 Butler run gave the Bulldogs the 60-58 lead, BU's first lead since the opening minutes of the game.

An 13-0 Xavier run in the final 10 minutes of the game put the Musketeers back in front for good, retaking an 11-point advantage. Butler would get as close as seven in the final minutes, but Xavier scored seven unanswered to close out the game, setting the final score at 85-71.

NOTABLES

Desmond Claude finished with a career-high 26 points after leading Xavier with 14 points in the second half. The mark tops his previous career-high of 25, set in the season opener against Robert Morris.
Dayvion McKnight added 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting.
Quincy Olivari went 5-of-8 from three to finish with 15 points. Olivari also grabbed seven boards and dished out five assists.
Abou Ousmane finished one point shy of a double-double, scoring nine and grabbing a team-high 11 rebounds.
The Musketeers outscored the Bulldogs 30-11 on fast-break points.
Xavier connected on 10 threes, marking a second-straight game of 10 or more made threes.
The Musketeers finished with a 43-35 advantage on the boards.