Butler Holds Off Xavier's Late Rally for Big East Win

Michael Ajayi and Yohan Traore lead the Bulldogs to victory on Senior Day

Feb. 21, 2026 at 9:04pm

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Michael Ajayi scored 24 points and grabbed 9 rebounds as Butler withstood a late rally by Xavier to win 80-75 in a Big East matchup on Saturday in Indianapolis. Fellow senior Yohan Traore added 21 points on 5-of-5 shooting for the Bulldogs, who led by as many as 21 points before Xavier made a furious comeback attempt in the second half.

Why it matters

The win snaps a four-game losing streak for Butler against Xavier and avenges a previous loss to the Musketeers earlier this season. It also marks the 500th career victory for Bulldogs head coach Thad Matta, who was honored before the game.

The details

Butler raced out to a 43-22 halftime lead, fueled by 11 early points from Ajayi and a 12-2 run capped by 7 straight points from Traore. Xavier made a big push in the second half, cutting the deficit to just 2 points late, but Butler held on down the stretch with key free throws from Finley Bizjack.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
  • Butler head coach Thad Matta was honored before the game for earning his 500th career victory, which came 3 days earlier.

The players

Michael Ajayi

A 24-year-old senior forward for Butler who scored a team-high 24 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in the win.

Yohan Traore

A senior for Butler who made all 5 of his shots and scored 21 points in the victory.

Tre Carroll

The Big East's leading scorer, he had 24 points and 7 rebounds for Xavier in the losing effort.

Thad Matta

The Butler head coach who was honored before the game for earning his 500th career victory, which came 3 days earlier.

Finley Bizjack

A Butler player who hit 3 free throws in the final 23 seconds to help seal the win.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

This game showcased Butler's veteran leadership and ability to withstand a late rally, as well as the scoring prowess of both teams' star players. The win was an important milestone for coach Thad Matta and the Bulldogs program.