Creighton used a balanced attack to take a 73-52 win over Butler Tuesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
 
With the result, Butler falls to 11-9 overall and 3-6 in BIG EAST play.
 
Creighton, which was voted as the BIG EAST preseason favorite and is receiving votes in this week's AP poll, improves to 11-8 and 5-3 BIG EAST.
 
STAT OF THE NIGHT: Creighton scored 44 of their 73 points in the paint and held a 47-24 rebounding advantage against Butler's front line that was missing Manny Bates for the second consecutive game.
 
TOP DAWG PERFORMANCE: Sophomore Simas Lukosius followed up his career-high 28 points from Friday night with a team-high 18 points Tuesday for Butler. He went 7-for-12 from the field, including 4-for-5 from behind the arc. He added three assists.
 
QUOTABLE COACH: "I thought we competed tonight. At some point, you have to put the ball in the basket. We missed a lot of shots at the rim that we normally make, and at critical times. Right now, we're putting so much pressure on our defense, especially against a team like Creighton that can hurt you in so many ways." – Thad Matta
 
HOW IT TRANSPIRED:

• Creighton's Trey Alexander banked in a three-pointer at the first half horn to give the visitors a 36-28 halftime lead, which was the largest advantage of a tightly-contested first half.
• Butler kept the lead within single digits throughout the early portion of the second half before a 9-0 Creighton run gave the Bluejays a 62-44 lead, which was the largest of the game at that point in the contest.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Creighton shot 47 percent from the field, and made seven of their 22 three-point attempts (32 percent).
• Creighton had seven players score eight or more points, led by Ryan Nembhard and Baylor Scheierman with 12 points apiece. Nembhard finished with a double-double, including 11 rebounds.
• Jalen Thomas added 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds for Butler. He added three blocks.
• Butler was limited to 35 percent shooting from the field, but did hit their three-pointers at a 57-percent clip (8-14).

OF NOTE:

• Butler was without Manny Bates, who missed his second consecutive game following a knee procedure. The Bulldogs dressed eight players due to five being out with various injuries.
• Entering the game, Butler had won seven of the last eight games between the two teams played at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
• Butler is now 8-3 at Hinkle Fieldhouse this season.
• The game served as Butler's annual Project 44 game, which highlights the legacy of the late Andrew Smith and the organization that was founded in his honor to promote the national bone marrow registry.
• Creighton is the first BIG EAST opponent that Butler has now completed the home-and-home series with. Creighton won the first match-up between the two teams in Omaha Dec. 22 by a score of 78-56.

 
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs travel to No. 15 UConn for a Sunday tip in Hartford. The contest will air nationally on FOX.