LATE CALL HELPS BUTLER TOPPLE XAVIER
Jayden Taylor scored 20 points, Manny Bates added 19 and a goaltending call on Eric Hunter Jr.’s drive to the basket with 2.5 seconds left helped host Butler to a 69-67 win over No. 13 Xavier on Friday night.
The Bulldogs (13-13, 5-10 Big East) reached .500 again by winning their second straight two-point game this week, after losing seven of their previous nine — and their first in six tries over a
Butler 69,
No. 13
ranked foe this season. The win sent fans streaming onto the court.
Souley Boum’s long heave at the buzzer bounced off the back of the rim for Xavier (19-6, 11-3), which never led in the game. Colby Jones had 17 points and eight rebounds, and Jack Nunge had 14 points and eight rebounds to lead the Musketeers.
The Bulldogs, who have struggled to find a consistent winning combination all season, fed off the energy of sold out Hinkle Fieldhouse. But after putting together perhaps their most complete first half this season, they still needed some help to hold on in a wacky finish.
Nunge, the sixth-year senior, was called for a technical foul with 23.4 seconds left. Taylor made both free throws to give Butler a 66-62 lead, but the Musketeers got a stop on the extra possession and made a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 66-65 with 13.5 seconds to play.
Taylor then made 1 of 2 two free throws before inexplicably fouling Boum near midcourt with 9.1 seconds left. Boum made both free throws to tie the score at 67.
On the ensuing possession, Hunter took advantage of a screen by Bates to steam through the lane, only to have the dunk attempt blocked.
The officials called it a goaltend, which withstood a replay review.
Coach Sean Miller’s Xavier squad entered the game with the sixth-best scoring team in Division I (83.8 points).
West
Nevada 77, Fresno State 66: Kenan Blackshear and Will Baker each scored 19 points as the host Wolf Pack (20-6, 10-3 Mountain West) overcame a second-half deficit and held off the Bulldogs (9-15, 5-8), who got 20 points from Isaiah Hill. Nevada was 23 of 26 from the line and shot 54.5 percent from the field.
Air Force 89, New Mexico 77: Guard Jake Heidbreder scored 26 points as the host Falcons ran away from New Mexico, which has lost three straight and four of five. Jamal Mashburn Jr. had 32 points for the Lobos (19-6, 6-6 MW). New Mexico played without starting guard Jaelen House, who sat out with a sore hamstring. Carter Murphy came off the bench to score 18 for Air Force (13-13, 4-9).