KELAN MARTIN HAD ANOTHER BIG GAME, SCORING 25 POINTS, AND NO. 22 BUTLER FOLLOWED ITS BIGGEST ROAD WIN OF THE SEASON WITH YET ANOTHER ON SUNDAY, PULLING AWAY IN THE CLOSING MINUTES FOR AN 88-79 VICTORY OVER XAVIER.
THE BULLDOGS (23-6, 12-5 BIG EAST) WERE COMING OFF A 74-66 VICTORY AT NO. 2 VILLANOVA, ONE OF THE BIGGEST ROAD WINS IN THEIR HISTORY. THEY KEPT THE MOMENTUM WITH A STRONG FINISH, OUTSCORING XAVIER 19-8 DOWN THE STRETCH FOR THEIR FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN.NEITHER TEAM LED BY MORE THAN SIX POINTS BEFORE BUTLER'S CLOSING SPURT. KAMAR BALDWIN ADDED 17 POINTS AND HAD TWO STEALS THAT SET UP THE LATE RUN.
XAVIER (18-11, 8-8) HAS LOST FIVE IN A ROW, ITS DEEPEST SLUMP IN 35 YEARS. THE MUSKETEERS DROPPED SIX STRAIGHT IN 1981-82 UNDER COACH BOB STAAK.THE MUSKETEERS' SLIDE COINCIDES WITH TOP SCORER TREVON BLUIETT SUFFERING A SPRAINED ANKLE. HE WAS BACK FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT GAME AND LED WITH 21 POINTS.