Indianapolis, IN – Andrew Smith and Rotnei Clarke each scored 20 points as the 19th-ranked Butler Bulldogs held off the Evansville Purple Aces, 75-67.
Kellen Dunham and Roosevelt Jones added 13 and 12 points, respectively, for the Bulldogs (9-2), who stunned previously unbeaten and then-No. 1 ranked Indiana in overtime last Saturday. Kameron Woods added 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Colt Ryan ended with 25 points for the Purple Aces (7-5), who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Ned Cox and Ryan Sawvell tallied 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Trailing by four, 13-9, with 11:13 left in the first half, Butler went on a 21-8 run to take the lead. Clarke and Dunham each tallied seven points during the surge. Dunham capped the burst with three free throws to make it 30-21 with 4:46 remaining.
Evansville stayed within striking distance and cut the gap to 35-31 on Sawvell's layup and a pair of Cox free throws.
The Bulldogs tried to pull away early in the second half. Holding a 41-36 edge with 16:31 to play, the Bulldogs ripped off seven straight points. Clarke's three-point play made it a 48-36 contest.
However, the Purple Aces responded with a 7-0 run of their own. Cox's 3- pointer and layups from Sawvell and Jordan Jahr cut the gap to 48-43 with 11:59 left.
Butler kept its cool and extended its margin to 56-45 on Dunham's layup and jumper.
The Bulldogs went 5-of-6 from the foul line in the final minute to secure their sixth straight victory.
Game Notes
Evansville leads the all-time series by a 62-56 margin, but Butler has won 12 of the last 15 meetings ... The Bulldogs went 23-of-27 from the foul line.
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