Butler leveled its BIG EAST record at 2-2 with a 72-58 win over Georgetown Thursday night at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

Butler is now 9-6 overall and 2-2 in BIG EAST; Georgetown falls to 6-7 (0-2 BIG EAST)

Jair Bolden led the Bulldogs with 23 points, which included five three-pointers. That marked a new high for Bolden in his two seasons at Butler. Bolden was joined in double figures by Bryce Nze (14) and Bryce Golden (11). Nze led the Bulldogs with eight rebounds.

Butler opened the second half by scoring 18 of the first 22 points to take a 50-31 lead with 13:52 remaining in the game.

The Bulldogs welcomed back Bo Hodges and Ty Groce. It was the season debut for Hodges, who has been rehabbing a tibial plateau fracture in his left knee that was sustained in late August. Groce had missed the last two games due to COVID protocols. Hodges had seven rebounds, two points, two steals and an assist in 10 minutes of action.

Butler went 17-of-19 from the free throw line.

Georgetown entered the game making 38.0 percent of their three-point attempts, which is Top 30 in the NCAA. Butler limited the Hoyas to a 3-of-16 performance from behind the arc Thursday night. Butler's defense held Aminu Mohammed and Kaiden Rice to combined 3-for-25 shooting from the field. Rice entered the game averaging 4.1 three-pointers per game.

Butler closed the first half by scoring 11 of the final 13 points to take a 32-27 halftime lead. The Bulldogs were down 25-21 and had missed 11 of their most recent 12 shots as Aaron Thompson picked up his second foul of the opening half with 4:48 remaining.

Butler has won the last six games at Capital One Arena (the Bulldogs lost on-campus at McDonough Arena in 2021).

The Bulldogs continue their three-game road swing with a Sunday tip at Villanova. The team then will travel to UConn for a Tuesday match-up.