Xavier stays alive with win over Butler

Trevon Bluiett scored 23 points, including a tough foul line jumper that broke the game’s final tie with 16 seconds left, and Xavier beat No. 18 Butler 62-57 on Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament.

Bluiett, who had six points in the first half, hit the winner over two defenders to make it 59-57. Butler (23-8) missed two chances to tie or go ahead and Xavier added a free throw and a dunk at the buzzer for the final margin.

The Musketeers (2112) will face the winner of the Creighton-Providence game in today’s semifinals. It will be Xavier’s fourth appearance in the semifinals.

Malcolm Bernard had 12 points and 10 rebounds for seventhseeded Xavier, while Sean O’Mara had 10 points in a win that almost assures the Musketeers a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Jevon Carter scored 21 points, West Virginia (25-7) cranked up its trademark defense and Mountaineers cruised past Texas (11-22) in the Big 12 quarterfinals. Monte Morris was an assist shy of the second triple-double in Big 12 Tournament history, leading Iowa State (21-10) past Oklahoma State (2111) in the quarterfinals.

Isaiah Hicks had 19 points and North Carolina (27-6) beat Miami (21-11) in the Atlantic Coast Conference quarterfinals.

Jayson Tatum scored 25 points and Grayson Allen provided an emotional lift during a second-half comeback to help Duke (25-8) beat Louisville (24-8).