Butler got back into the win column with a 68-58 win over DePaul Saturday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Bryce Nze and Chuck Harris led the way for the Bulldogs, each posting 22 points.
 
With the win, Butler is now 6-10 overall and 5-8 in BIG EAST play.
 
"There's no better place to be than Hinkle for a noon tip," said Butler coach LaVall Jordan. "We dug ourselves a hole again early, but I thought we had good looks that we just didn't finish at that point in the game. Our guys found a rhythm in the second half with Christian David in there, helping us get some stops in a row. We didn't play great, but we played well enough to figure it out."
 
DePaul held its largest lead of the game at 18-6 with 10 minutes remaining in the first half. The Bulldogs heated up from the field, scoring 20 of the next 26 points to take the lead and eventually a 30-29 halftime lead. Butler's first-half performance was highlighted by 15 points from Harris.
 
Butler took control of the game midway through the second half as a 12-1 run gave the Bulldogs their largest lead of the contest at 49-39 with 11:29 remaining. The Bulldogs were able to seal the game at the free throw line, making 24 of 36 attempts on the afternoon (both season-highs).
 
Nze's 22 points came on 6-of-8 shooting from the field, including a career-best three three-pointers (on four attempts). The 22 points are a Butler-high for the 6-7 forward. Harris went 4-of-8 from behind the arc and made eight of his nine attempts at the free throw stripe, tying his career-high with 22 points. Bo Hodges pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds, his second time in his three Butler games registering double-figure rebounds.
 
Aaron Thompson had nine points, five assists, three steals, three rebounds, and one block for Butler. The Bulldogs shot 44 percent from the field.
 
Nze and Harris are the first Butler duo to each post 20 points in the same game since Kamar Baldwin and Jordan Tucker accomplished the feat against St. John's more than two years ago (Jan. 19, 2019).
 
Javon Freeman-Liberty scored 26 points, nearly half of DePaul's total. No other Blue Demon made it to double figures. Butler's defense limited DePaul to 39-percent shooting.
 
The Bulldogs return to action Tuesday night, hosting St. John's for a 9 p.m. tip.