Box Score

A feverish second-half comeback bid came up short as the Bulldogs fell to No. 17 Purdue, 82-67, Saturday afternoon as part of the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis.

Kelan Martin led four Bulldogs in double figures with 17 points as Butler drops to 8-3 on the season. Purdue is now 11-2.

Purdue's defense limited Butler to 21-percent shooting in the first half as the Boilermakers built a 35-19 lead after 20 minutes. The lead grew to 26 with 13:37 to play (55-29). But the Bulldogs would not go quietly.

Over the next 10 minutes, Butler would out-score Purdue, 31-16, to trim the lead to nine (69-60) with 3:03 to play.

Purdue would respond with an 11-2 run and secure the win by hitting nine of 10 free throws in the final three minutes of the game.

"I thought the second half there was a lot to be proud of, the way we fought back and played with a little more energy, a little more grit. We didn't have that in the first half, and that's where we've got to be better as coaches. That one's on me to just make sure we start games with the same mentality, with the same aggressiveness, and try to get the same quality on both ends of the floor that we did late."
 
Much of Butler's run was fueled by Paul Jorgensen and Kamar Baldwin. The duo began the game by hitting only 2-of-18 shots combined, but made nine of 13 attempts down the stretch. As a team, Butler's fifth consecutive made three-pointer (after starting 1-of-14) pulled the Bulldogs within nine for the first time since 25-17 with 4:23 to play.

Jorgensen ended with 15 points and a career-high eight rebounds. Baldwin finished with 13 points. Martin's 17 points came on 6-of-13 shooting.

Carsen Edwards led five Purdue players in double figures with 18 points. The Boilermakers shot 53 percent from the field and made 19 of 24 free throws.

Butler shot 53 percent in the second half to raise its field goal percentage to 38 percent for the game. The Bulldogs out-rebounded Purdue, 37-31, aided largely by 18 offensive boards.

Eleven of Purdue's 18 turnovers came in the second half as Butler mounted its comeback. The Bulldogs turned the ball over 17 times.

Freshman Aaron Thompson had 10 points and four rebounds for Butler before fouling out.

Sean McDermott, sidelined since Nov. 24 with a sprained ankle, returned for Butler in Saturday's contest. He played eight minutes.

Butler closes out the non-conference slate with a pair of games next week, hosting Morehead State Tuesday night and Western Illinois Thursday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Tickets are available for both contests.