Box Score A career-high 27 points from Kelan Martin wasn't enough as Butler fell in a tight contest in Milwaukee, 75-69, Saturday afternoon. With the win, Marquette improves to 15-7 overall and 4-5 in BIG EAST play. Butler now stands at 14-7 (3-6).
Marquette shot 52 percent from the field, including 10-of-17 from behind the arc. Henry Ellenson had 32 points and 10 rebounds for the Golden Eagles. He made 14 of his 16 free throw attempts.
Martin went 11-of-20 from the field en route to his career day. Roosevelt Jones had 15 – all the in first half – to go along with six assists and five steals. Jones' halfcourt heave to end the first half went in tied the game at 37 at the intermission.
"We had some good moments and some good stretches of play today," said Butler coach Chris Holtmann. "Obviously, we weren't good enough to win this game on the road. The deal is what are we doing today to improve; the rest will take care of itself."
Neither team led by more than six throughout the game as the early portion of the second half was back and forth before a Traci Carter three-pointer gave the home team a 56-53 lead with 9:17 to play. It broke the 11th tie of the game. Butler would have a three-point attempt to tie the game with 16 seconds to play, but it didn't fall as Marquette added three free throws in the closing seconds for the 75-69 win.
Kellen Dunham had 15 for Butler, which shot 42 percent from the field. The Bulldogs only had eight turnovers, but made eight free throws compared to 17 for the home team.
Carter added 15 for Marquette on 5-of-7 shooting from behind the arc.
The Bulldogs return to Hinkle Fieldhouse to host Georgetown on Tuesday (Feb. 2). The 7 p.m. match-up will be the first of two meetings between the teams this season. The tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast nationally on FS1. Tickets are still available for the contest through the Butler Athletics Ticket Office and Ticketmaster platforms.
