A dominating second half led the Bulldogs to an 87-69 road win at DePaul Wednesday night in Chicago. Kamar Baldwin spearheaded the effort with 17 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, while the Bulldogs also got the best performance of Jordan Tucker's young Butler career with 19 points and eight rebounds.
 
"I'm proud of our group for responding after two close losses where we didn't finish well," said Butler coach LaVall Jordan. "Our leadership is growing and there is a great resiliency about this group."
 
Butler ends a two-game losing streak and improves to 11-7 (2-3 BIG EAST).
 
The Bulldogs shot 71 percent in the second half, erasing a four-point halftime deficit. A 17-0 run gave the Bulldogs a 63-47 lead midway through the second 20 minutes as Butler opened the second half by making nine of 13 attempts, including six of seven from behind the arc.
 
Both of Tucker's figures were career-highs. He was 7-of-14 and hit five three-pointers.
 
The Bulldogs shot 58 percent for the game, and hit 13 three-pointers (on 28 attempts). Sean McDermott added 17 points and Aaron Thompson had 12.
 
Butler's strong second half came from momentum gained near the end of the first 20 minutes.
 
Butler heated up midway through the first half, hitting 10 of 13 attempts from the field during a stretch that saw the Bulldogs take their first lead of the game on a Tucker three-pointer (32-30) with 2:32 to play in the half. DePaul closed by scoring 10 of the final 14 points leading into the intermission for a 40-36 halftime edge. Fourteen of McDermott's points came in the first half, which included a 4-of-6 clip from behind the arc.
 
Ten of Baldwin's rebounds also came in the first 20 minutes as he eclipsed his previous season-high of nine. His previous career-high was 11. Baldwin was 8-for-11 from the field and had five of the team's 18 assists. Nate Fowler added five points and eight rebounds.
 
Butler won the rebounding battle, 37-30.
 
The Bulldogs' defense limited DePaul (10-6, 2-3 BIG EAST) to 41-percent shooting overall and only 31 percent in the second half. Femi Olujobi (23 points) and Paul Reed (20 points and 12 rebounds) led the Blue Demons. Max Strus, who entered the game averaging 18.4 points per game, was held to 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting.
 
The Bulldogs return to Hinkle Fieldhouse to play St. John's Saturday afternoon in front of a sold-out crowd. The tip is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on FOX.