Virginia Cavaliers vs Butler Bulldogs
Bizjack with 25 points, Ajayi with double-double, power Butler in 80-73 victory over Virginia
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- — Finley Bizjack scored 25 points, Michael Ajayi had his sixth double-double in six games, and Butler defeated Virginia 80-73 on the final day of the Greenbrier Tip-Off on Sunday.
Bizjack, a junior, has only two other 20-point games in his career. Ajayi, a senior transfer from Gonzaga, had 17 points and 14 rebounds. He is averaging 14.8 and 12.2 this season.
Butler led the entire second half, except for a brief period when Malik Thomas hit a 3-pointer and a mid-range jumper to give Virginia a 49-48 lead with 16:46 remaining. Bizjack buried a jumper on Butler's next possession and the Bulldogs led the rest of the way.
A three-point play by Jalen Jackson, who finished with 10 points, made it 66-58 and a few minutes later the Bulldogs scored six points for a 76-66 lead with 2 1/2 minutes left.
Thomas led Virginia (5-1) with 24 points. Jacari White scored 14, Chance Mallory 11 and Thijs De Ridder 10.
Butler (5-1) shot 53% in the first 10 minutes-plus, building a 26-16 lead with 9:52 remaining in the first half. Virginia rallied late in the half and tied it up with a 12-1 run in which De Ridder and White both hit 3-pointers. Butler scored last and led 44-42 at halftime.
It was the second meeting between the two. Virginia won 77-69 in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
Virginia: Queens visits on Friday
Butler: Wright State visits on Friday
------ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Game Information
White Sulphur Springs, WV
Referee:Tim Clougherty
Referee:Tim Comer
Referee:A.J. Desai
2025-26 Standings
| Big East ConferenceBig East Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. John's | 18-2 | - | 30-7 |
| UConn | 17-3 | 1 | 34-6 |
| Villanova | 15-5 | 3 | 24-9 |
| Seton Hall | 10-10 | 8 | 21-12 |
| Creighton | 9-11 | 9 | 16-18 |
| DePaul | 8-12 | 10 | 16-16 |
| Butler | 7-13 | 11 | 16-16 |
| Providence | 7-13 | 11 | 15-18 |
| Marquette | 7-13 | 11 | 12-20 |
| Georgetown | 6-14 | 12 | 16-18 |
| Xavier | 6-14 | 12 | 15-18 |
| Atlantic Coast ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 17-1 | - | 35-3 |
| Virginia | 15-3 | 2 | 30-6 |
| Miami | 13-5 | 4 | 26-9 |
| North Carolina | 12-6 | 5 | 24-9 |
| Clemson | 12-6 | 5 | 24-11 |
| Louisville | 11-7 | 6 | 24-11 |
| NC State | 10-8 | 7 | 20-14 |
| Florida State | 10-8 | 7 | 18-15 |
| California | 9-9 | 8 | 22-12 |
| Stanford | 9-9 | 8 | 20-13 |
| Virginia Tech | 8-10 | 9 | 19-13 |
| SMU | 8-10 | 9 | 20-14 |
| Wake Forest | 7-11 | 10 | 18-17 |
| Syracuse | 6-12 | 11 | 15-17 |
| Pittsburgh | 5-13 | 12 | 13-20 |
| Notre Dame | 4-14 | 13 | 13-18 |
| Boston College | 4-14 | 13 | 11-20 |
| Georgia Tech | 2-16 | 15 | 11-20 |
Men's College Basketball News

Andrej Stojakovic returning to Illinois for senior season
1d

Notre Dame, Villanova to start men's, women's hoops season in Rome
2d

Ex-Penn State G Kayden Mingo transferring to Baylor
2d

