Jahmyl Telfort guides Butler to win over Xavier

Field Level Media|published: Wed 6th March, 22:01 2024

Mar 6, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Butler Bulldogs guard DJ Davis (4) goes to the basket against Xavier Musketeers guard Dayvion McKnight (20) and Xavier Musketeers forward Abou Ousmane (24) during the first half at Hinkle Fieldhouse. credits: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

Jahmyl Telfort had 18 points to lead four players in double figures for Butler, which snapped a three-game home losing streak with a 72-66 victory over Xavier on Wednesday in Indianapolis.

Posh Alexander had 16 points, Pierre Brooks scored 14 and DJ Davis added 11 for the Bulldogs (18-13, 9-11 Big East), who used a 17-0 first-half run to take control and eventually win their second straight following a five-game skid.

The Bulldogs, 4-5 at home after starting 8-0 at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse, shot just 41 percent overall, but held Xavier (15-15, 9-10) to 37.3 percent shooting on the night.

Desmond Claude 17 points for the Musketeers, who scored 42 second-half points to make things interesting but finished with 15 turnovers. Xavier had won two straight following a four-game losing streak.

Dayvion McKnight and Quincy Olivari each scored 13 for Xavier.

Claude's 3-pointer gave Xavier a 4-3 lead before Butler scored the next 17 points. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Brooks and two straight inside buckets from Telfort highlighted that run for the Bulldogs, who made eight of their first 10 shots — going 4-for-5 from long distance — to open the game.

Though a 10-2 spurt, featuring five points from Claude, got the Musketeers within eight points, Butler regained control and eventually went up 37-20 on a Finley Bizjack's layup with 4:46 left in the opening half.

The Bulldogs, who held a 13-point advantage at the break, didn't score again until Telfort's basket with 13:29 left in the second half. Butler missed its last nine shots of the first half and its first nine shots of the second half.

Xavier wasn't much better, though, going 2-for-18 in roughly the same span. After scoring the final four points of the first half, the Musketeers put up the first eight in the second half to get within 37-32.

The Musketeers trailed 53-48 with nine minutes remaining in the game before Alexander recorded a steal and layup then sank a corner 3-pointer. Telfort followed with a fallaway jumper and Brooks sank a layup to cap a 9-0 run for a 62-48 Butler lead.

The contest was Butler's regular-season finale. Xavier plays host to No. 8 Marquette on Saturday.

—Field Level Media