Sports

No. 19 Butler rebounds from sluggish start to hold off pesky Evansville 75-67

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Butler guard Alex Barlow, right, shoots over Evansville guard Ned Cox during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) (The Associated Press)

Evansville guard/forward Colt Ryan, left, goes for a loose ball with Butler guard Jackson Aldridge during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) (The Associated Press)

Rotnei Clarke and Andrew Smith each scored 20 points to lead No. 19 Butler past pesky Evansville 75-67 on Saturday.

The Bulldogs (9-2) have won six straight and completed a five-game sweep of Indiana schools — including last weekend's stunning overtime victory against the top-ranked Hoosiers.

Evansville (7-5) was led by Colt Ryan with 25 points and Ned Cox with 12 as the Aces lost for the first time in three games.

Butler, playing its first game since last week's win over then-No. 1 Indiana, was sluggish early but regrouped with a 22-8 run that gave the Bulldogs a 25-17 lead with 6:34 left in the first half.

Evansville spent the rest of the game playing catch-up.

Butler finally put it away with a quick 8-1 scoring flurry that made it 64-50 with 4:26 left in the game. The Bulldogs closed it out at the free throw line.