Butler did it! Bulldogs down suddenly slumping Xavier

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

12/23/2008 - Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matt Howard had 19 points and 14 rebounds as the Butler Bulldogs upset the 14th-ranked Xavier Musketeers, 74-65, at Cintas Center.

Gordon Hayward had 19 points and 10 rebounds while Willie Veasley added 12 points for the Bulldogs (10-1), who have won two straight.

Derrick Brown had 17 points and eight boards while C.J. Anderson had 15 points for the Musketeers (9-2), who have dropped their last two games.

Holding a lead to start the second half, Butler built on its advantage with six straight points and Shelvin Mack's jumper made it a 44-36 game.

Trailing by seven points later in the second half, Xavier scored six straight points with Terrell Holloway getting the final three on a layup and free throw to make it a 53-52 game with a bit over eight minutes to play.

Butler, though, answered with a three-pointer from Hayward followed a bit later with a free throw from Ronald Nored to make it a 57-52 contest with 6 1/2 minutes to play.

Holloway was fouled as he put in a layup and he drained the free throw to cut the deficit to 61-57, but Nored followed with a layup to keep it a six-point game with a bit over four minutes to play.

Brown, though, countered with a three-pointer, but Butler then hit five straight free throws and held a 68-60 lead on Hayward's two from the line with under three minutes to play.

Two free throws from Anderson and a three-pointer by Brown made it a three- point game again with two minutes to play, but the Butler defense clamped down and didn't allow Xavier any more points as the Bulldogs held on for the win.

Butler assumed early command of the game with an 8-0 run in the opening minutes of the contest.

It stayed close for the next several minutes, but Xavier got a layup from Anderson followed by a three-pointer from Brad Redford for a 26-24 advantage with a little over two minutes left in the first half.

The Bulldogs, though, countered with a three-ball from Nored and a jumper by Shawn Vanzant to take a 29-26 lead into the locker room.

Game Notes

Xavier hosts Robert Morris on New Year's Eve...Butler hosts UAB next Tuesday...Xavier leads the all-time series, 28-15.

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