The Bulldogs unofficially opened the second edition of the Thad Matta Era Saturday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse with a 75-65 exhibition win over Tiffin.
 
STAT OF THE GAME: Seventeen of Simas Lukosius's game-high 20 points came in the second half. He went 7-for-10 from the field overall.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Butler's two impact transfers – Eric Hunter Jr. and Manny Bates – had 17 and 16 points, respectively.
• Bates went 7-for-12 from the field and had a team-best eight rebounds in his unofficial Butler debut.
• Hunter was 6-for-13 from the field and had four assists.
• Both Butler and Tiffin shot 6-for-21 from three-point range. After hitting only two of their 13 attempts from behind the arc in the first half, Butler went 4-for-8 after the intermission.
• Myles Wilmoth got the start and had six points and six rebounds.
• The Bulldogs went 2-for-9 from the free throw line in the first half and finished at 11-for-22.
• Wesley Jordan led Tiffin with 12 points; he was one of three Dragons in double figures.

 
OF NOTE:

• The Bulldogs were without Jalen Thomas, John-Michael Mulloy and Ali Ali due to various injuries.
• Butler led 32-25 at the half before Tiffin took a 38-37 lead early in the second half; the Bulldogs responded with a 9-0 run to retake a 46-38 lead.
• Butler had only seven assists on 29 made field goals. 
• Butler opened the game by scoring 12 of the first 15 points.

 
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs host their second and final exhibition Tuesday night when Davenport comes to Hinkle for a 7 p.m. tip.