National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Butler 72, Xavier 66
When: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Officials: # Tony Chiazza, # Nathan Farrell, # Greg Evans
Attendance: 8976

Jahmyl Telfort had 18 points to lead four players in double figures for Butler, which snapped a three-game home losing streak with a 72-66 victory over Xavier on Wednesday in Indianapolis.

Posh Alexander had 16 points, Pierre Brooks scored 14 and DJ Davis added 11 for the Bulldogs (18-13, 9-11 Big East), who used a 17-0 first-half run to take control and eventually win their second straight following a five-game skid.

The Bulldogs, 4-5 at home after starting 8-0 at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse, shot just 41 percent overall, but held Xavier (15-15, 9-10) to 37.3 percent shooting on the night.

Desmond Claude 17 points for the Musketeers, who scored 42 second-half points to make things interesting but finished with 15 turnovers. Xavier had won two straight following a four-game losing streak.

Dayvion McKnight and Quincy Olivari each scored 13 for Xavier.

Claude's 3-pointer gave Xavier a 4-3 lead before Butler scored the next 17 points. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Brooks and two straight inside buckets from Telfort highlighted that run for the Bulldogs, who made eight of their first 10 shots -- going 4-for-5 from long distance -- to open the game.

Though a 10-2 spurt, featuring five points from Claude, got the Musketeers within eight points, Butler regained control and eventually went up 37-20 on a Finley Bizjack's layup with 4:46 left in the opening half.

The Bulldogs, who held a 13-point advantage at the break, didn't score again until Telfort's basket with 13:29 left in the second half. Butler missed its last nine shots of the first half and its first nine shots of the second half.

Xavier wasn't much better, though, going 2-for-18 in roughly the same span. After scoring the final four points of the first half, the Musketeers put up the first eight in the second half to get within 37-32.

The Musketeers trailed 53-48 with nine minutes remaining in the game before Alexander recorded a steal and layup then sank a corner 3-pointer. Telfort followed with a fallaway jumper and Brooks sank a layup to cap a 9-0 run for a 62-48 Butler lead.

The contest was Butler's regular-season finale. Xavier plays host to No. 8 Marquette on Saturday.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Xavier   Butler
Desmond Claude 17 Scoring Jahmyl Telfort 18
Kachi Nzeh 2 Assists Posh Alexander 4
Abou Ousmane 10 Rebounds Jalen Thomas 10
Desmond Claude 6 Free Throws Made Jahmyl Telfort 5
Desmond Claude 2 Steals Posh Alexander 4
Dayvion McKnight 2 Blocks Jalen Thomas 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Xavier 66 37.3 4-13 12-12 5 39 5 8 15
Butler 72 40.9 6-24 12-13 13 31 8 7 9