INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — Butler survived a second-half surge from Xavier to secure an 80-75 victory in a Big East Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs built a 47-28 halftime lead behind strong inside play but had to withstand a determined comeback attempt. The Musketeers outscored Butler 47-33 after intermission, closing the gap to a single possession late before Butler sealed the win at the free-throw line. Tre Carroll led Xavier with 24 points. For Butler, Michael Ajayi scored 24 points and Yohan Traore added 21. Butler’s efficiency at the line, making 25 of 33 free throws, proved decisive. Xavier shot just 10 for 32 from three-point range. Butler improved to 15-13 overall. Xavier fell to 13-14. Attendance was 9,100.

INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — In a game defined by contrasting styles and a dramatic second-half reversal, the Butler Bulldogs held off a furious Xavier rally to secure an 80-75 victory in a Big East Conference men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at a sold-out Hinkle Fieldhouse. A crowd of 9,100 saw the Bulldogs, who led by as many as 19 points in the first half, withstand a relentless charge from the Musketeers, who erased nearly all of that deficit before falling just short in the final minute. The win improved Butler’s season record to 15-13, while Xavier dropped to 13-14. The most critical phase of the contest was unquestionably the opening 15 minutes, where Butler built an insurmountable foundation for its win. The Bulldogs came out aggressively, attacking the paint and capitalizing on Xavier’s early mistakes to construct a commanding lead. They shot a blistering 64 percent from the field in the first half, scoring 47 points, while their defense forced the Musketeers into a disjointed offensive performance. Butler’s interior dominance was immediate and overwhelming. Forward Michael Ajayi, a 6-foot-7 junior from Kent, Washington, set the tone with a layup just 17 seconds into the game. He and center Yohan Traore, a 6-foot-11 sophomore from Tours, France, proved nearly unstoppable in the early going. Ajayi scored 13 of his game-high 24 points in the first half, while Traore added 10 of his 21 before the break, exploiting Xavier’s defense for easy baskets and frequent trips to the free-throw line. The Bulldogs’ lead ballooned to 41-22 after a Traore dunk with just over four minutes remaining in the half, a sequence emblematic of their control. Xavier, meanwhile, struggled to find any offensive rhythm, committing early shot-clock violations and turnovers that Butler converted into a 44-22 advantage in points in the paint for the game. The Musketeers shot just 10 of 32 from 3-point range for the game, with many of those attempts coming as forced responses to the large deficit. Despite the daunting halftime score of 47-28, Xavier refused to capitulate. The Musketeers emerged from the locker room with renewed defensive intensity and finally found their shooting touch. Guard Malik Messina-Moore, a 6-foot-5 junior from Ventura, California, ignited the comeback, scoring 15 of his 20 points after halftime. His backcourt mate, Tre Carroll, a 6-foot-7 sophomore from Port Charlotte, Florida, led all Xavier scorers with 24 points, including four second-half 3-pointers that fueled the surge. Xavier’s defensive adjustment slowed Butler’s offensive machine considerably. After scoring 47 points on 64 percent shooting in the first half, the Bulldogs managed only 33 points on 37 percent shooting in the second. The Musketeers methodically chipped away, using a 14-4 run early in the period to cut the lead to single digits. A Carroll 3-pointer with 8:05 remaining brought Xavier within 67-61, and the margin hovered between four and eight points for the next seven minutes. The Musketeers had a chance to tie or take the lead in the final two minutes. Trailing 77-75 after a Jovan Milicevic layup with 1:55 left, Xavier got a defensive stop. On the ensuing possession, Messina-Moore missed a 3-pointer that would have given the Musketeers the lead. Butler secured the rebound, and the game ultimately came down to free throws. Butler’s significant advantage at the charity stripe was a decisive factor throughout the night. The Bulldogs attempted 33 free throws, making 25, compared to Xavier’s 11 attempts, of which they made nine. In the final 23 seconds, guard Finley Bizjack, a 6-foot-4 sophomore from Trophy Club, Texas, sealed the victory by making three of four free throws to extend the lead to five. Bizjack finished with 18 points, all crucial to maintaining Butler’s cushion during Xavier’s push. While Xavier won the efficiency battle in the second half, Butler’s first-half explosion and its ability to convert free throws under pressure proved the difference. The Bulldogs also won the turnover battle, committing only five to Xavier’s six, and out-rebounded the Musketeers 34-30. The victory gave Butler a regular-season split with Xavier, avenging an 89-75 loss in Cincinnati on Jan. 14. It also provided a vital Quadrant 2 win for the Bulldogs’ postseason aspirations as the regular season enters its final weeks. Xavier, which has now lost four of its last five games, will look to regroup on the road at Providence on Tuesday. Butler, having won two of its last three, travels to face Villanova on Wednesday.

Preview: Xavier Looks to Sweep Season Series at Butler INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — Two Big East teams hovering around .500 will meet Saturday when the Butler Bulldogs host the Xavier Musketeers at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Both teams are seeking consistency in the final stretch of the regular season. Xavier (13-13, 5-8 Big East) enters after a heartbreaking 92-89 overtime loss to Villanova on Tuesday. Butler (14-13, 6-8) arrives with momentum from a 93-89 road victory at Georgetown on Wednesday. The Musketeers won the first meeting this season, 89-75 at home on Jan. 14. They will rely on the hot hand of guard Tre Carroll, who is averaging 23.4 points over his last seven games. Carroll scored 28 points in the overtime loss to Villanova and has topped 20 points in five of those contests. Butler counters with guard Finley Bizjack, who orchestrated the win over Georgetown with 19 points and six assists. Bizjack has shown high-scoring potential, including a 30-point effort in a double-overtime loss to Providence on Feb. 4. Xavier’s recent performances have been a mix of explosive offense and narrow defeats, with three of their last four losses coming by five points or fewer. Butler has struggled for wins lately, with just two victories in its last seven games prior to the Georgetown win. The matchup features two of the conference’s more prolific guards in Carroll and Bizjack, setting the stage for a key backcourt battle. A win would give Xavier a season sweep and push them closer to an even record, while Butler aims to protect its home court and build a winning streak. Saturday’s game is scheduled for a 12 p.m. EST tipoff at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse.