First Posted: 2/21/2015
CINCINNATI — Butler’s best stretch of the season ended with the Bulldogs getting pushed around and routed on the road.
Myles Davis scored 18 points, and Xavier (18-10, 8-7 Big East) never trailed during a 73-56 victory over the 19th-ranked Bulldogs (19-8, 9-5) on Saturday, Butler’s most lopsided loss of the season.
The Musketeers blew the game open at the start of the second half, with Davis hitting a pair of 3s that sparked a 15-6 run. The victory added to their momentum from a 59-57 win over crosstown rival Cincinnati on the Bearcats’ court Wednesday night.
The Musketeers led by as many as 29 points in the second half before turning to their reserves.
Bluffton 87, Transylvania, OT
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Bluffton earned its way into the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament in a virtual play-in game. Three straight triples, one from Austin Rohde (Shelby) and two from freshman Andrew Finley (Cincinnati/Walnut Hills) sealed the deal in the overtime period. The Beavers finish the regular season 14-11 and 10-8 in the HCAC. The Pioneers wrap up their season 12-13 and 9-9 in conference play. The win also delivered Bluffton head coach Guy Neal his 300th career victory.
The Beavers have advanced to the HCAC Tournament, where they are the sixth seed and will take on the third-seeded Anderson University Ravens. The game will be played at either Mount St Joseph or Defiance at 6 p.m. Friday, depending on the results from Sunday’s games.
Duquesne 83, Dayton 73
PITTSBURGH — Micah Mason had 17 points and matched a career-high with nine assists to help Duquesne (9-16, 4-10 Atlantic 10) beat Dayton (20-6, 10-4).
Kent State 64, Ohio 51
ATHENS — Devareaux Manley sank five 3-pointers and finished with 16 points to lead Kent State (19-8, 10-4 MAC) to a 64-51 win over Ohio (9-16, 4-10).
Buffalo 68, Bowling Green 56
BOWLING GREEN — Shannon Evans had 19 points, which included hitting 5 of 6 3s to lead Buffalo (17-9, 8-6 MAC) to a win over Bowling Green (17-8, 9-5).
Toledo 97, W Michigan 87
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Julius Brown had 19 points and six assists and all starters scored in double figures to lead Toledo (18-9, 10-4 MAC) to a win over Western Michigan.
Detroit 83, Youngstown State 70
YOUNGSTOWN — Juwan Howard Jr. scored 22 points with four 3-pointers and Jarod Williams tossed in 16 as Detroit (13-17, 6-4 Horizon League) made nearly 70 percent of its field goals to defeat Youngstown State (11-18, 2-12).
Women’s roundup
Transylvania 96, Bluffton 49
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Transylvania hit seven first half triples. The 15th-ranked Pioneers finished the regular season unbeaten in the HCAC at 18-0 and 24-1 overall. Bluffton will go into tournament play at 18-7 with a 12-6 mark in the conference.
Bluffton was led by sophomore center Rachel Beining, an Ottoville grad, who scored 16 to go along with seven boards and three blocks.
The Beavers will enter the upcoming HCAC tournament as the No. 3 seed or the No. 4 seed. They will play either Manchester, Rose-Hulman or Defiance. Rose-Hulman and Defiance are tied for the sixth and final spot in the tournament and both of their games were moved to today due to weather conditions.
Ohio State 100, No. 13 Iowa 82
COLUMBUS — Ameryst Alston had 29 points and a career-high 11 assists, Alexa Hart scored 17 to go with 10 rebounds, and the Ohio State women snapped a five-game losing streak against No. 13 Iowa (21-6, 12-4) on Saturday night, pulling away in the second half for a win over Iowa (21-6, 12-4).
ONU games postponed
Heavy snow in the area also forced the postponement of the Ohio Northern men’s and women’s basketball games against Marietta. The men’s game at Marietta and the women’s game at home with the Pioneers have been postponed until 3 p.m. Sunday at their original sites.
