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Xavier Dominates Early, Holds Off Butler for 76-63 Victory
By
Musketeer Madness,
2/18/2025
A dominant first half propelled Xavier to a 76-63 victory over Butler at Cintas Center on Tuesday night. The Musketeers came out firing, building a commanding 17-point halftime lead and fending off the Bulldogs' second-half push to improve to 17-10 overall and 9-7 in BIG EAST play.
Xavier’s offensive balance proved too much for Butler, as four Musketeers scored in double figures. Ryan Conwell and Zach Freemantle led the way with 14 points each, while Dayvion McKnight and Dailyn Swain contributed 13 apiece. Marcus Foster chipped in nine points, including two timely three-pointers.
The Musketeers wasted no time setting the tone, using a fast-paced attack to jump out to an early lead. Xavier shot 54.8% from the field in the first half, including 5-of-14 from beyond the arc. Their defensive intensity also played a key role, forcing 12 turnovers and turning them into 21 points.
Butler (12-14, 5-10 BIG EAST) struggled to keep pace in the opening half. The Bulldogs’ leading scorer, Jahmyl Telfort, did his best to keep them in the game with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting, but he received little support as Butler shot just 41.3% in the first 20 minutes.
The second half saw Butler attempt a rally, cutting the deficit to single digits multiple times. Pierre Brooks and Finley Bizjack added 14 points each for the Bulldogs, but Xavier’s defense and rebounding stifled any hopes of a comeback.
Freemantle and Swain made crucial plays down the stretch to halt Butler’s momentum. A highlight-reel dunk by Swain with just under eight minutes to play ignited the home crowd, and Xavier never looked back.
Rebounding was another key factor in the Musketeers’ win, as they held a 33-28 edge on the boards. Swain and Dante Maddox Jr. led the charge with seven and eight rebounds, respectively.
Despite a drop in shooting efficiency in the second half (32.4% from the field), Xavier’s ability to capitalize on Butler’s mistakes sealed the victory. The Musketeers scored 19 fast-break points, consistently pushing the tempo to wear down the Bulldogs.
With the win, Xavier continues its push in the BIG EAST standings. Up next, the Musketeers travel to Seton Hall for a crucial conference matchup on Sunday, February 23. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
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