INDIANAPOLIS —  Matt Howard scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half, including two free throws with 0.8 seconds left, to help No. 21 Butler stave off Detroit's upset bid with a 54-50 victory Saturday.

The Bulldogs (14-1, 5-0) won their sixth straight overall and their 16th consecutive in Horizon League play despite an uncharacteristically poor performance, matching their best start in school history.

Three players _ Thomas Kennedy, Eulis Stephens and Eugene Blue _ scored eight points apiece to lead Detroit (4-11, 0-6), which has not beaten a ranked opponent on the road since 1979.

But they came awfully close Saturday.

Detroit scored six straight points late to take a 50-49 lead with 2:31 to go.

Gordon Hayward's 19-footer with 1:40 left gave the lead back to Butler at 52-50.

Then the Titans had a chance to tie it in the final seconds, but Tryl Hartfield drove in for a 3-foot pullup shot that hit the front of the rim, Howard grabbed the rebound and made the free throws to seal it.

This wasn't what Butler expected from a team that has lost 18 consecutive conference games.

Then again, the Bulldogs weren't themselves.

After starting the game 4-of-6 from the field, the Bulldogs finished the half making just 4-of-18, missed a handful of layups and never seemed to get into sync offensively.

The Titans took advantage by using a 12-2 run to build a 22-15 lead with 5:20 left in the first half, and extending it to 26-18 late.

But the Bulldogs got Detroit into foul trouble late and closed the half by scoring the final four points to pull to 26-22.

Howard's dunk 90 seconds into the half tied it and Hayward made one of two free throws after Detroit's bench drew a technical foul to give Butler a 27-26 lead with 18:23 to go.

Afterward, the teams traded leads six times before the Bulldogs pulled off one of their patented runs.

Leading 39-38, Zach Hahn hit a 3-pointer, Avery Jukes knocked down a 15-foot baseline jumper and Willie Veasley stripped the ball under the basket and drove coast-to-coast for a layup and a 46-40 lead with 6:42 left.

But they still couldn't put Detroit away.

The Titans answered with four straight free throws, then retook the lead at 50-49 on Jason Bennett's tip-in with 2:31 left.

Hayward's basket and Howard's free throws finally closed it out.

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