INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Semaj Christon scored 15 points and Isaiah Philmore had 10 Tuesday, leading Xavier past longtime rival Butler 64-50.
It was the second straight win for the Musketeers (17-7, 7-4 Big East) and gave Xavier a season sweep in a series it has dominated recently. The Musketeers have won eight of the last 10 against the Bulldogs.
Butler (12-12, 2-10) was led by Elijah Brown with 14 points and Alex Barlow with 11. It has lost three straight and five of six.
This was no typical matchup between two programs that broke through the ranks of the mid-majors to become perennial basketball powers.
The Bulldogs struggled mightily on offense, shooting just 33 percent from the field, and the Musketeers eventually pulled away.
Xavier scored the final five points of the first half to make it 31-22, then opened the second half on a 17-2 run to make it 48-24.
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