Providence Friars vs Xavier Musketeers Box Score on Feb 28, 2018

Bluiett scored 23 points and Goodin finished with 18 points for the Musketeers (26-4, 14-3 Big East). Xavier has won 11 of 12 and can lock up the regular-season conference title with a win over DePaul on Saturday.

Maliek White scored 15 points off the bench and Alpha Diallo and Isaiah Jackson each added 13 points for the Friars (18-12, 9-8). Providence has work to do in next week's Big East tournament to secure a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Xavier built double-digit leads at multiple points in the game but struggled to put away the Friars, who stayed within striking distance until late in the second half.

A jump-hook from Rodney Bullock off the left block cut Xavier's lead to 65-59 with six minutes to play.

Xavier answered with a 3-pointer from Naji Marshall and got enough stops down the stretch to hold off the Friars.

Xavier started hot, surging out to a 21-8 lead midway through the first half. Bluiett hit an early 3-pointer, and Kerem Kanter scored six quick points in the paint to fuel the Musketeers' strong start.

Providence battled back late in the first half. Jackson and White made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions, and the Friars closed the half with a 13-4 run that was capped by an up-and-under bank shot by Makai Ashton-Langford.

Xavier, which led by as many as 13 in the first half, went to the locker room with only a 40-37 lead. Bluiett and Goodin each had 11 points to lead the Musketeers in the first half.

Kyron Cartwright added 10 points for the Friars.

Providence closes out the regular season at home against St. John's on Saturday.

The Big East tournament tips offs March 7 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

--Field Level Media