CINCINNATI — Desmond Claude scored 26 points to help Xavier defeat Butler 85-71 on Tuesday night.
Claude was 9 of 19 shooting, including 0 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 8 for 8 from the line for the Musketeers (9-8, 3-3 Big East Conference). Dayvion McKnight shot 7 of 12 from the field and 5 for 5 from the line to add 20 points. Quincy Olivari shot 5 for 12, including 5 for 8 from beyond the arc to finish with 15 points, while adding seven rebounds and five assists.
Pierre Brooks led the way for the Bulldogs (11-7, 2-5) with 22 points and four assists. Posh Alexander added 21 points, five assists and four steals for Butler. Jalen Thomas also put up 11 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.
Led by 14 first-half points from McKnight, Xavier carried a 46-32 lead into the break. Claude had 14 second-half points.
BOX SCORE
BUTLER (11-7)
Telfort 3-16 4-4 10, Thomas 5-6 1-2 11, Alexander 7-14 4-5 21, Davis 0-8 2-2 2, Brooks 7-15 3-6 22, Bizjack 1-3 0-0 2, Screen 1-5 1-2 3, Moore 0-1 0-0 0, Kapke 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-68 15-21 71.
XAVIER (9-8)
Nemeiksa 3-5 0-0 7, Ousmane 3-6 2-4 9, Claude 9-19 8-8 26, McKnight 7-12 5-5 20, Olivari 5-12 0-0 15, Swain 0-3 0-0 0, Green 3-5 0-0 8, Ciani 0-2 0-2 0, Djokovic 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-65 15-19 85.
Halftime: Xavier 46-32.
3-Point Goals: Butler 8-24 (Brooks 5-9, Alexander 3-5, Thomas 0-1, Bizjack 0-2, Telfort 0-3, Davis 0-4), Xavier 10-21 (Olivari 5-8, Green 2-2, Nemeiksa 1-1, McKnight 1-2, Ousmane 1-2, Djokovic 0-1, Swain 0-1, Claude 0-4).
Rebounds: Butler 31 (Thomas 10), Xavier 42 (Ousmane 11).
Assists: Butler 17 (Alexander 5), Xavier 20 (Olivari 5).
Total Fouls: Butler 19, Xavier 16.
Attendance: 10,224 (10,250).