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Carroll Powers Xavier Past Butler
By
Musketeer Madness,
1/15/2026
Xavier put together a wire-to-wire performance Wednesday night at the Cintas Center, defeating Butler 89–75 behind balanced scoring, strong interior play, and crisp ball movement. The Musketeers led from the opening tip and never relinquished the advantage, improving to 11–7 overall and 3–4 in Big East play in front of 9,577 fans.
Xavier set the tone early, shooting 48.6 percent in the first half and building a 44–36 lead at the break. The Musketeers consistently attacked the paint and pushed the pace, scoring 50 points in the lane and 29 fast-break points for the game. Butler kept contact with timely baskets, but Xavier’s efficiency and defensive pressure prevented any momentum swing.
The Musketeers continued to control the game after halftime, stretching the lead to as many as 23 points midway through the second half. Xavier shot 45.9 percent in the final 20 minutes and answered every Butler run with poised execution, including a 13–0 scoring burst that effectively put the game out of reach.
Tre Carroll led all scorers with 29 points on 12-of-22 shooting, adding nine rebounds, five steals, and four blocks in an all-around effort. Filip Borovicanin followed with 14 points, seven rebounds, and a team-high nine assists, anchoring the offense from the frontcourt. Jovan Milicevic also scored 14 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting, while Malik Messina-Moore contributed 15 points and nine assists to keep the Musketeers’ attack flowing.
Xavier finished the night shooting 47.3 percent from the field and knocked down nine 3-pointers, while assisting on 30 of its 35 made baskets. The Musketeers won the rebounding battle 42–34 and recorded eight steals, turning defense into consistent offense throughout the evening.
Butler was led by Michael Ajayi’s 22 points and 12 rebounds, with Yohan Traore adding 14 points, but the Bulldogs struggled to keep pace with Xavier’s depth and tempo. Xavier’s ability to control the paint, share the ball, and sustain pressure for all 40 minutes proved decisive in a complete home-court victory.
Next up for Xavier is a road contest at Creighton on Wednesday, January 27. Game time is at 7:00 p.m.
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