TERRE HAUTE, IND. – Butler, playing its first true road game of the year, rode a balanced offensive attack and a strong defensive effort to a 77-54 victory over Indiana State at the Hulman Center on Wednesday (Dec, 3).  The win lifted the No. 23-ranked Bulldogs to 6-1 on the young season.

Five Bulldogs scored in double-figures, and one more narrowly missed reaching twin digits.  Juniors Roosevelt Jones and Kellen Dunham led the way with 14 points apiece, while freshman Kelan Martin added 11.  Senior Kameron Woods posted a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, sophomore Andrew Chrabascz scored ten points and senior Alex Barlow added eight.

But it was the Bulldogs' performance at the defensive end that set the tone for the game.  Butler limited Indiana State (3-4) to eight points in the first 11 minutes of the contest and 22 points in the first 20 minutes.  The Sycamores shot just 29.6% in the first half and 37.5% for the game.

Indiana State scoring leader Khristian Smith finished the game with just four points, while starting forward Justin Gant was scoreless.

"Our guys came out with the appropriate approach and mind-set tonight," said Butler coach Chris Holtmann.

"We have guys who can really match-up with perimeter players, and they take it personal when they get scored on," Holtmann added of the team's defensive effort.  "I love that competitiveness.  Our team defense was really solid across the board."

The Bulldogs, coming off a third place finish at the rugged Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas, broke an early 5-5 tie with six unanswered points.  Jones broke the tie with a free throw, and Dunham followed with a lay-up.  Chrabascz then hit his second three-point field goal of the game to give Butler an 11-5 advantage.

Indiana State cut the lead to 11-8 with a basket and a free throw by Devonte Brown, but that's as close as the Sycamores would come for the rest of the evening.  Dunham hit a pair of three-point field goals and Austin Ethrington added a third to spark a 9-0 run and stretch the lead to double-figures.  The margin never dropped below ten points the rest of the game.

Butler led 37-22 at halftime and then built the lead to as many as 26 points in the second half.  All 11 Butler players saw action in the game, and nine cracked the scoring column.

The Bulldogs shot 61.5% (16-26) in the second half and 53.8% (28-52) for the game.  Woods, who led all players in the game in rebounds, helped Butler to a 39-26 rebounding advantage.

Brown led Indiana State with 16 points, including 12 in the second half, while Jake Kitchell added 14.

Butler will return home to host Northwestern on Saturday, Dec. 6.  The game at Hinkle Fieldhouse will start at 4:30 p.m., and will be televised nationally on FOX Sports.