INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Three-pointers on five straight possessions midway through the second half helped Butler men’s basketball pull away for a 72-55 victory over Creighton on Wednesday night at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Butler snapped a four-game losing streak to improve to 10-10 on the season and 3-6 in BIG EAST action. The Bluejays dropped to 12-6 (4-3 BIG EAST) with its fifth straight loss to Butler in games played in Indianapolis.
Butler held a 27-24 lead at the half after both offenses struggled coming out of the gate. The Bluejays shot just 37.0 percent from the floor but were 1-of-11 from three-point range and committed nine turnovers. Arthur Kaluma led the Bluejays with 11 points before the break. Butler was paced by seven points by Bo Hodges. The Bulldogs shot 33.3 percent in the first half but converted CU’s turnovers into 11 points.
Hodges heated up early in the second half with four straight points before Hodges, Chuck Harris, Bryce Golden (twice) and Simon Lukosius drained three-pointers on five straight possessions to help the Bulldogs take a 55-36 lead with 9:28 remaining. The Bluejays got no closer than 14 points (64-50 and 66-52) the rest of the night.
Butler entered the game shooting a league-worst 27.0 percent in conference play while Creighton entered with a league-best 26.3 percent defense from behind the arc, but the numbers would suggest otherwise on Wednesday as Butler sank 10 triples.
Hodges led Butler with 18 points, with Harris (14), Lukosius (14) and Golden (10) also finished in double-figures. Butler won the rebound battle 40-30.
Creighton was led by 18 points by Kaluma on 7-of-12 shooting. Kalkbrenner had 10 points and five blocks and Alex O’Connell notched 10 points and seven rebounds. The Bluejays shot 2-for-22 from three-point range.
Creighton returns home on Saturday at host No. 21 Xavier in a 1 p.m. start.
