Box Score

Butler's frontcourt duo of Andrew Chrabascz and Kelan Martin combined for 49 points as the Bulldogs closed out the non-conference portion of its schedule with an 81-69 win over Vermont Wednesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler, ranked No. 13 in this week's national polls, is 11-1 on the season. Vermont falls to 8-5.

Chrabascz scored 28 points on 12-of-18 shooting. It was 10 points better than his season-high and just two points shy of his career-best. Martin added 21 points and eight rebounds. He went 6-of-11 from the field, making all three of his attempts from behind the arc.

Coach Chris Holtmann picked up his 100^th career win as a head coach with Wednesday night's victory. Athletic director Barry Collier presented him with the game ball in the locker room after the game. Collier and Celtics coach Brad Stevens were two of the former Butler head coaches in attendance to watch Holtmann reach the career milestone.

"This was certainly a tough game, and we expected that," said Holtmann, who is now 56-23 as head coach at Butler in addition to his three seasons in charge of the Gardner-Webb program. "Vermont will have a heck of a season. They make things difficult for you. Out of this week, we got exposed in some areas that are concerning. We need to be tougher as we enter BIG EAST play."

The Bulldogs shot 57 percent for the game, including a 70-percent (16-of-23 mark) in the second half. Under Holtmann, Butler is now 27-0 when scoring 80 or more points and improves to 23-0 when shooting 50 percent or better from the field.

Vermont shot 43 percent from the field, but turned the ball over only nine times. That was one better than Butler's 10 miscues. The Bulldogs entered the night ranked third nationally in fewest turnovers. This was the first time this season that Butler committed more turnovers than its opponent.

The Bulldogs never trailed after taking a 14-12 lead with 13:25 remaining in the first half. The lead would grow to 14 in the waning minutes of the first half, and Butler took a 40-30 lead into the break.

The Catamounts clawed the lead down to eight (61-53) with 9:07 remaining in the game, but the Bulldogs responded by scoring 10 of the next 13 points to push the lead back to 15, and essentially put the game out of reach.

Drew Urquhart and Trae Bell-Haynes led Vermont with 14 points apiece. Urquhart added 10 rebounds as the two teams each ended the night with 32 caroms.
Tyler Lewis had seven assists to go along with five rebounds and four points. Tyler Wideman and Nate Fowler each scored eight points as 65 of Butler's 81 points came from its frontcourt.

Butler opens BIG EAST play on Thursday, Dec. 29, traveling to St. John's for a 7 p.m. match-up on FS1. The Bulldogs return to Hinkle Fieldhouse on New Year's Day, hosting Providence.