Xavier rides Desmond Claude's 26 to oust Butler from Big East tourney

(Photo credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
NEW YORK --- Desmond Claude scored 26 points and ninth-seeded Xavier earned a 76-72 victory over Butler in the opening round of the Big East tournament on Wednesday.

Claude and the Musketeers (16-16) advance to the conference tournament quarterfinals against No. 1 seed UConn. Voted the league's most improved player, Claude scored at least 25 for the fourth time this season