Box Score

In a match-up of Top 25 programs, Butler defeated Cincinnati in a 75-65 decision Saturday afternoon in front of a sold-out crowd at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Kelan Martin had 20 points to lead the 16^th-ranked Bulldogs over the visiting Bearcats, ranked No. 22 nationally.

The Bulldogs are now 9-1 on the season after rebounding from their first loss of the season Wednesday at Indiana State. Butler improves to 18-3 under Chris Holtmann following a loss. Cincinnati is 7-2 on the season.

Butler had only one turnover in the second half and a season-low six for the game. That, coupled with 19-of-24 shooting from the free throw line after the break, proved to be the difference in the contest.

"I'm really proud of our guys," said Holtmann. "We competed against a really good, veteran team. This was a good response from the other night (the team's loss at Indiana State Wednesday). Hopefully, this is another chapter in our journey and in our growth."

Martin came off the bench for the first time this season, guiding the Bulldogs to a 33-4 advantage in bench scoring. He was one of seven Bulldogs to register at least six points. Andrew Chrabascz had 12 points and five assists. Martin's 20 came on 6-of-14 shooting from the field. He had three of Butler's eight three-pointers. Seven of those from long range came in the first half.

Butler built a six-point lead late in the first half before Cincinnati closed with a run to tie the game at 35 at the half. The Bulldogs' lead was only four (51-47) with 9:43 to play. A 12-4 run that included a technical foul on the Bearcats' bench provided Butler with some breathing room for the first time, a 12-point lead with five minutes to go. The Bulldogs hit free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

Cincinnati's Troy Caupain had a game-high 22 points with 15 of those coming in the first half. His scoring in the first 20 minutes counterbalanced the Bulldogs' high marks from three-point range. Gary Clark added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the visitors.

Sean McDermott (seven points) and Kamar Baldwin (eight points, seven rebounds) got the first starts of their respective Butler careers. Nate Fowler, a Cincinnati native, provided the Bulldogs with a key spark, registering nine points and four rebounds in 13 minutes of play.

Butler shot only 43 percent from the field, but limited the Bearcats to a 40-percent mark. Cincinnati held a slight 35-34 rebounding advantage, including a 14-7 edge in second-chance points.

Butler also defeated Cincinnati a season ago in the Queen City, taking both ends of the home-and-home series with the Bearcats. The Bulldogs have now defeated 34 consecutive non-conference opponents at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

The Bulldogs have the week off for final exams before matching up with Indiana Saturday (Dec. 17) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in the Crossroads Classic. The game with the Top 10 Hoosiers tips at 5 p.m. and will air on the Big Ten Network. Butler returns to Hinkle Fieldhouse Dec. 21, facing Vermont to close out the non-conference schedule.