After a premature ending to the 2019-20 season and a delayed beginning to the 2020-21 campaign, the Bulldogs finally returned to action Wednesday night, holding off Western Michigan, 66-62, at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Senior Aaron Thompson led the Bulldogs with a career-high 21 points to go along with four assists and two steals. He went 6-of-9 from the field and 8-of-11 from the free throw line.

The victory is the 59^th consecutive home win against a non-conference opponent for the Bulldogs; that is the nation's longest active streak.

Butler was unable to create distance from the Broncos as neither team ever led by double figures. The Bulldogs were hampered by 40-percent shooting, but committed only six turnovers.

The Bulldogs shot only 5-of-20 from behind the arc, but a pair of newcomers hit the most important ones of the night. Graduate transfer Jair Bolden's three-pointer with 8:24 remaining erased WMU's last lead of the game, pulling the Bulldogs ahead 55-53. Ten of Bolden's 15 points came in the second half. Bolden added a career-best nine rebounds.

Freshman JaKobe Coles stepped into a three-pointer and connected with 2:16 to play, giving the Bulldogs their largest advantage at 65-57. That proved to be enough for the victory.

Bryce Nze scored nine points for the Bulldogs before exiting the game with an ankle injury with 11:11 remaining. WMU led 49-46 at that point, and Nze was unable to return.

While converting only the six turnovers, Butler was also able to turn 13 Bronco miscues into 16 points.

Western Michigan made nine of their 18 three-point attempts. B. Artis White led the Broncos with 17 points, while the WMU bench out-scored Butler's, 28-11.

The Bulldogs return to action Sunday night, hosting Eastern Illinois at 6:30 p.m. A limited number of tickets are available for the contest, which will also be broadcast nationally on FS1.