Box Score Andrew Chrabascz and Kelan Martin each poured in 18 points as Butler ran away from Missouri State, 93-59, Thursday afternoon in the team's opening game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in San Juan. Tyler Lewis had 10 assists for the Bulldogs, who improve to 2-0 on the young season. Missouri State falls to 0-2.
Lewis had nine points to along with his assist total. He is the first Butler player since Ronald Nored (vs. Indiana State, Feb. 18, 2012) to post double-figure assists in a game. Lewis had no turnovers as Butler had 23 assists against eight turnovers.
Butler shot an even 60 percent (33-55) from the field. Kellen Dunham had 11 points on just four shots from the field. Roosevelt Jones had 10 rebounds to go along with six points and four assists. It was his second consecutive game with at least 10 rebounds.
"I was really pleased with our willingness and ability to share the ball today," said Butler coach
Chris Holtmann. "We made the right play and the right pass. Twenty-three assists against eight turnovers makes a coach really proud. We'll turn the page quickly because we face a really good team tomorrow in Temple."
Butler's defense limited Missouri State to 34-percent shooting, including only 2-of-15 from three-point range.
With the game tied at eight just a few minutes into the contest, Butler went on a 14-2 run to take a 22-10 lead with 10:43 to play in the first half and never looked back. The lead would grow to 27 in the closing minute of the first half before the Bulldogs took a 49-25 lead into the locker room. Nine of Missouri State's 11 turnovers came in the opening 20 minutes. After several minutes of trading baskets to start the second half, the Butler advantage would grow to as many as 37.
It was Butler's second straight impressive performance to open the season, on the heels of the team's record-setting 144-71 win over The Citadel in the season opener.
Butler advances to the semifinals where the Bulldogs will face Temple Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. (Eastern, 2 p.m. Atlantic time in San Juan). Temple defeated Minnesota, 75-70, in the opening game of the tournament Thursday afternoon.
