A strong offensive showing by Butler was not enough as the Bulldogs fell to No. 19/20 Florida Atlantic, 91-86, on Thanksgiving Day.
 
It marked Butler's opening game of the 2023 ESPN Events Invitational at the State Farm Field House in Orlando, Fla.
 
Butler, now 3-2 on the season, will turn around and play Penn State Friday afternoon.
 
FAU improves to 3-1 on the young season.
 
A Posh Alexander four-point play with 4:40 remaining pulled Butler within 78-77, but FAU would score eight of the next nine points to put together an 86-78 advantage with 2:32 to play. Butler would only be able to trim the lead to four over the closing stretch.

COACH THAD MATTA: "I thought we did a good job getting back (in the game at the end of the first half). Thought we played a little bit tougher there, through stretches in the second half. Just telling the guys, our margin for error, we've got to come up with first time rebounds. When you play a team like Florida Atlantic - that is an unbelievable basketball team. When you deviate and you make mistakes, they make you pay. And I thought that was probably the biggest difference."

 
OF NOTE:

• FAU shot 52 percent from the field, while Butler shot an even 50 percent.
• Five Bulldogs scored in double figures, led by 19 from Jahmyl Telfort.
• DJ Davis went over 1,000 points in his career in the game, finishing with 13 points.
• Butler made nine of their 19 attempts from three-point range and went 17-for-22 from the free throw line.
• Posh Alexander had a season-best nine assists to go along with his 12 points.
• Andre Screen had 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
• Vladislav Goldin led FAU with 19 points and 11 rebounds. He was one of six in double figures.
• The game featured seven ties and seven lead changes.
• FAU had a 37-31 rebounding advantage and scored 17 second-chance points off 15 offensive rebounds.
• FAU's largest lead of the game came with 7:22 remaining in the first half at 33-23.
• Butler's largest lead of the game came at 70-66 with 9:20 left in the game. FAU would retake the lead at 71-70 and never relinquish it.
• This was the first meeting between Butler and FAU.

 
UP NEXT: ESPN Events Invitational play in Orlando continues Friday. Butler and Penn State will play at 1:30 p.m., in a game that will air on ESPN+. The Bulldogs will also play Sunday to close out the event.