INDIANAPOLIS – Adam Kunkel scored 18 of his 25 points in the second half, and No. 24 Xavier defeated Butler 87-72 in Big East basketball Friday night before a crowd of 8,557 at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Kunkel came into the game averaging 8.2 points per game. He shot 8-of-12, and 4-of-8 on 3-pointers.
The Bulldogs (8-6) fell to 1-2 in the conference and play their next three on the road. They were 1-9 on the road in the Big East last season.
The play Thursday at Georgetown, which lost to Marquette 92-64 Friday.
Xavier, coming off a 17-day layoff, is 12-2 and 2-1.