Box Score Butler's 2015-16 season came to a close Saturday night in Raleigh, N.C., as the ninth-seeded Bulldogs lost to Midwest Region top seed Virginia, 77-69, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Butler ends the season with a 22-11 record, while the Cavaliers (28-7) advance to the Sweet 16 next weekend.
Junior Andrew Chrabascz led Butler with 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting. Roosevelt Jones added 18 points in his final collegiate game.
"I can't say enough about our seniors," said Butler coach Chris Holtmann. "They are absolute warriors. There wasn't one day these past few years when I didn't enjoy coming to work and being around them. They have left an unbelievable impression on Butler. I'm sad that I don't get to coach them another day."
The contest featured 11 ties and 11 lead changes. A Jones lay-up made it 55-53 in favor of UVA with 8:38 to play. The Cavaliers would then score nine of the next 11 points to take a 64-55 lead with 5:56 remaining.
The Bulldogs would not go quietly, pulling within three at 72-69 with 36 seconds to play. UVA would convert one free throw to push the lead to four and Butler was unable to connect on its last three shots as Malcolm Brogdon hit the final four free throws of the game for the final margin.
In the second half, Virginia shot 74 percent from the field and made 15 of 19 free throw attempts as one of the nation's toughest defensive teams uncharacteristically had to out-score its opponent to get the win. UVA out-rebounded Butler, 32-22. Butler hung tough thanks to a season-low four turnovers and seven three-pointers.
Chrabascz's season-high included 4-of-4 shooting from three-point range. His 25th point came with 13:46 to play and gave Butler a 42-41 lead. Virginia adjusted to place Brogdon, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, on Chrabascz at that point in the contest. Jones picked up the scoring once the defensive assignment shifted with 15 of his points coming in the final 13 minutes.
Brogdon led UVA with 22 points and five assists. He was one of four Cavaliers in double figures. Virginia shot 56 percent for the game compared to 46 for the Bulldogs.
Kellen Dunham had eight points in his Butler finale. He, Jones and fellow seniors Austin Etherington and Jordan Gathers finish their Butler careers as one of the most successful senior classes in Butler history. Dunham is third in Butler history in scoring and three-point field goals, while Jones is in the Top 10 in rebounds, assists and steals.
