Bulldogs Close Italian Tour With One-Sided Victory

Six different players scored in double-figures and Butler cruised to a 94-37 victory over Prima Veroli on Tuesday, Aug. 11, in Rome.  It was Butler’s second consecutive victory over the Italian club team and left the Bulldog with a 2-2 record for their four-game tour of Italy.

For the second straight night, the Bulldogs were led in scoring by redshirt freshman Chase Stigall, who finished with 15 points.  The 6-3 guard had 35 points in Butler’s back-to-back games against Prima Veroli, and he finished with a four-game average of 11.0.

Stigall had plenty of help in the Bulldogs’ final game.  Senior Willie Veasley and sophomore Garrett Butcher each scored 14 points, sophomore Shelvin Mack and redshirt freshman Emerson Kampen each tallied 13 points and senior Avery Jukes added 11 points.  Butler also picked up points from senior Nick Rodgers (6), junior Shawn Vanzant (5), junior Zach Hahn (4) and sophomore Gordon Hayward (2).

Juniors Matt Howard and Grant Leiendecker and sophomore Ronald Nored did not play in the game because of injury.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 34-7 lead in the first quarter and led at halftime, 51-22.  The margin after three quarters was 52 points, 77-25.

Mack and Hayward wound up leading the Bulldogs in scoring on the tour with 48 points apiece, while Stigall added 44.  Butcher also posted a double-figures scoring average with 40 points (10.0).  

Bulldog Bits:  The Bulldogs will close out their 10-day tour of Italy with a trip to Vatican City on Wednesday (Aug. 12).  The team will return to the U. S. on Thursday, Aug. 13.