LaVall Jordan. “They set the tone early with those threes. We picked our energy up in the second half, and that’s what we need consistently, for everyone to come in and their part with great energy.”
Xavier extended a 12-point halftime advantage to a 47-27 margin with 15:30 remaining. Butler responded with 13 straight points to cut the deficit to seven on Bo Hodges’ putback with 11:12 to play.
Saturday’s game was the Butler debut for Hodges, who had an appeal approved by the NCAA earlier this week to become immediately eligible after sitting out the first 13 games of the season after transferring from East Tennessee State. Hodges had 11 points and six rebounds in 27 minutes of action off the bench.
Bryce Nze’s bucket in the paint with 6:53 to play pulled the Bulldogs within four for the first time since early in the first half. That made the score 54-50. Xavier responded by pushing the lead back to nine immediately and then captured the win.
Nze had his third double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds. He went 7-of-10 from the field. Aaron Thompson added 10 points. Butler shot only 34 percent from the field, including 5-of-25 from three-point range.
Xavier hit 51 percent of their shots, including the 10 three-pointers. Adam Kunkel (15) and Nate Johnson (14) joined Scruggs in double figures. Those three combined to go 9-of-11 from behind the arc.
The Bulldogs are back in action Tuesday at Marquette. The 5 p.m. (Eastern, 4 p.m. Central) tip will air on FS1.
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