Watch the Butler postgame press conference
 
A career-high 28 points from Simas Lukosius and 57-percent shooting gave Butler a 79-71 win over visiting Villanova Friday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
 
With the win, Butler improves to 11-8 on the season and 3-5 in BIG EAST play. Villanova is now 8-10 (2-5).
 
DAWG OF THE NIGHT: Lukosius went 9-for-13 from the field, including a career-best five three-pointers, to net his career-high 28. He made all five of his free throw attempts. He added three assists, three steals and a block. His previous high of 27 came against Xavier in the 2022 BIG EAST Tournament.
 
STAT OF THE GAME: Butler shot 57 percent from the field, topping 50 percent in each half. The Bulldogs were 9-for-21 from behind the arc and 18-for-21 at the free throw line.
 
HOW IT WENT DOWN:

• Butler created some breathing room in the first half as a 10-0 run gave the Bulldogs a 34-22 lead with 3:47 remaining in the half.
• After Butler took a 40-30 halftime lead, Villanova responded by opening the second half with a 16-1 run that gave the visitors a 46-41 lead. Butler then went to work.
• An Eric Hunter Jr. three-pointer as the shot clock expired knotted the game at 48-48 with 11:03 to play.
• Butler took its last lead at the 4:54 mark of the game on two Lukosius free throws to lead 64-62. At that point in the game, he had 24 points. That was part of an eventual 7-0 run that gave Butler a 67-62 lead they would not relinquish.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Lukosius led four Bulldogs in double figures as Chuck Harris (12), Jalen Thomas (11) and Hunter (10) also hit the plateau.
• Thomas went 5-for-6 from the field and collected a team-high five rebounds.
• Hunter led Butler with seven assists, setting a new season-high and just one shy of his career-high.
• Butler forced Villanova into 15 turnovers, which featured 11 Butler steals.
• Eric Dixon (22) and Caleb Daniels (21) led Villanova in scoring.
• Villanova shot 52 percent from the field and held a 27-20 rebounding advantage.

 
OF NOTE:

• Butler played without Manny Bates, who sat out the contest with a knee injury he has been dealing with in recent games. Butler was also without DJ Hughes, Myles Wilmoth and John-Michael Mulloy due to various injuries.
• Jayden Taylor only took three shots from the field and scored seven points, but was +18 in plus/minus, which was the best mark of the game.
• Butler is now 8-2 at Hinkle Fieldhouse this season.
• With Bates missing his first game of the season, Butler adjusted its starting line-up for the third consecutive game with both Ali Ali and Jalen Thomas as part of the starting five.
• Thomas has led the Bulldogs in rebounding in four of his eight games this season.
• Butler is now 11-0 when leading at the half.
• Butler is now 11-0 when scoring 70 or more points.
• This is the tenth game this season that Butler has shot at least 50 percent from the field.

 
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs conclude a two-game homestand Tuesday night, hosting Creighton at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available for the contest, which will air nationally on FS1.