Xavier Wins A Thriller Against Butler

By:  Cooper Ledford

The Xavier Musketeers (5-2) and Butler Bulldogs (4-3) were facing off, Thursday night in Cincinnati.  Last year there was an odd finish to the game, don't believe me, Google it.  Butler won that game last decade by 2.  Xavier was looking for a good Ole cup of revenge.  That they would get.  The Musketeers won 51-49.

Early on, Butler had a good 12-7 lead, and started the game 5/5 from the floor, but soon the Muskies came.  They started to get hot, and went on a 9-0 run, or something like that, and Butler would get cursed.  BU missed 13 consecutive field goal attempts, which that streak went into the 2nd half, but majority of that streak was in the 1st.  Xavier had the lead 32-22 with 30 seconds to go, but there was dumb foul that would allow the Bulldogs to go to the line for 2.  Butler capitalized with 2 more points, but XU lead at the half, 32-24.

In the 2nd half, Xavier was the team that did not have so much luck.  They were not looking very good at all.  Butler, on the other hand, was looking much better.  The 'Dogs looked like the better team for a while in the 2nd half, a big reason why is that they were 13-13 from the line.

Both teams battled down the stretch, with Butler tying the game with a little under a minute and a half left off two free throws from Andrew Smith. On Butler’s next possession, Kenny Frease fouled Ronald Nored with 32 seconds left. Nored missed his first attempt, Butler’s first miss from the line all night.

Xavier would have the ball with 21.3 seconds left, with Butler forcing the ball out of bounds with 4.2 seconds left in the possession. Ronald Nored would commit his fifth and final foul, clipping Mark Lyons on the throw in. Lyons stepped to the line and drained both with 3.4 seconds left in the game.

Shelvin Mack dribbled the ball down the court and pulled up at the three-point line and failed.

Butler was led by the game’s leading scorer Matt Howard who scored 17 points of 5-of-10 shooting, including making both of his throws from downtown. Shelvin Mack also added 15 points, making all eight of his free throw attempts.

Kenny Frease lead the way for Xavier, as he had 12 points.  Up next, it was Tu Holloway, who had 10 points, a season-low for him.

Xavier will next host Wake Forest at Cintas Center on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. The game is scheduled to be broadcasted by CBS College Sports. Stay tuned to GoXavier.com for more information about Xavier Athletics.