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Florida International’s Freddy Aspirilla, right, dives for the ball in front of Georgetown’s Greg Monroe (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday in Washington.

AP PHOTO

CINCINNATI — Matt Howard and Gordon Hayward both scored 19 points, and Butler turned back one late Xavier rally after another to beat the 14th-ranked Musketeers 74-65 on Tuesday night, the Bulldogs’ first win over a ranked team in more than a year.
Butler (10-1) hadn’t beaten a ranked team since its 62-59 victory over No. 18 Maryland in the 2007 NCAA tournament. This one came against a team that suddenly looks lost.
Xavier (9-2) was coming off an 82-64 loss to Duke on Saturday that ended the second-best start in school history and gave the Musketeers a lesson in what happens if they leave their swagger in the locker room. Duke opened with an 18-1 run that set the game on course for a blowout.
Against an old rival, the Musketeers got off to another bad start and bad outcome. It was the Musketeers’ second loss in their last 31 games at the Cintas Center. Derrick Brown led Xavier with 17 points.
Butler’s only loss was 54-51 at Ohio State on Dec. 13. This time, the Bulldogs made sure the upset wouldn’t slip away.
Butler and Xavier played regularly during their 16 years together in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference, with the Bulldogs going 3-16 in Cincinnati during that time.
For their first rematch in 10 years, the Bulldogs started three freshmen and a sophomore and won in their usual style: Few turnovers, tough defense, a few 3s. They did a little of all three during an opening 12-4 run that left Xavier with a familiar, bad feeling. Xavier missed its first four 3-point shots while falling behind.
The Musketeers made four 3s, the last by Brad Redford, during a 14-7 spurt that put them ahead 26-24 late in the first half. It would be their final lead.
Howard had two three-point plays during a 12-4 run that put Butler ahead 44-36 with 14:25 left. The Bulldogs jumped to their feet in celebration when Xavier called a timeout to blunt the run. Six times, Xavier got within a basket. All six times, a Bulldog made a basket or free throws to preserve the lead that they held since the closing minute of the first half.
Xavier’s final chance came after Brown made a 3-pointer with 1:52 remaining, cutting it to 68-65. Ronald Nored made two free throws to end it there.
Portland St. 77, Gonzaga 70
SPOKANE, Wash. — Jeremiah Dominguez scored 25 points and Portland State upset No. 7 Gonzaga for its first win over a ranked team since it reinstated its basketball program for the 1996-97 season.
Portland State (9-3), which relied on a short, quick lineup, managed to outrebound the Zags 39-30. The Vikings kept the lead by hitting 12 3-pointers.
Gonzaga (8-3) was coming off an 88-83 overtime loss to No. 2 Connecticut on Saturday that resulted in the Bulldogs rising one spot in the Top 25. But they looked sloppy against the Vikings, committing 11 turnovers, missing layups and shooting only 42 percent.
It was the Zags’ third home loss since the McCarthey Athletic Center opened in 2004.
Penn State 73, Sacred Heart 65
STATE COLLEGE— Talor Battle scored 25 points and Penn State held off Sacred Heart.
Stanley Pringle scored 15 points and Jamelle Cornley added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Nittany Lions (11-2), who never trailed.
Corey Hassan scored 17 points and Chauncey Hardy had 13 for Sacred Heart (3-6).
Georgetown 76, Florida International 38
WASHINGTON — Austin Freeman scored 17 points, Chris Wright had 14 and DaJuan Summers added 13 to lead No. 12 Georgetown past Florida International.
The Hoyas (9-1), who won their sixth straight, open Big East play on Dec. 29 at No. 2 Connecticut.
The Golden Panthers (4-9) scored the fewest points in their history.
Florida International dressed 10 players — five of them walk-ons — and it was quickly apparent they weren’t in the Hoyas’ class. Georgetown led 23-4 with 10:31 left and were ahead 43-16 at halftime.
Arizona St. 90, Idaho St. 55
TEMPE, Ariz. — Rihards Kuksiks made five of Arizona State’s school-record 17 3-pointers and the 20th-ranked Sun Devils routed Idaho State.
James Harden scored 18 points in just 26 minutes as Arizona State improved to 10-1, matching its best start in 34 seasons. All five Arizona State starters hit double figures.

Virginia 74, Hampton 48
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va — Mike Scott notched a double-double, scoring 17 points and grabbing 15 boards, to lead Virginia in a win against Hampton.
Siena 71, Buffalo 60
ALBANY, N.Y. — Edwin Ubiles scored 21 points to lead Siena past Buffalo in non-conference action.
Illinois 75, Missouri 59
ST. LOUIS — Demetri McCamey scored all but two of his 20 points in an almost perfect first half, helping Illinois manhandle No. 25 Missouri for its ninth straight victory in the annual Braggin’ Rights game.