Pierre Brooks II scored a career-high 26 points and Jahmyl Telfort posted 16 of his 18 points in the second half as Butler registered an 88-78 win over Penn State Friday in the 2023 ESPN Events Invitational at the State Farm Field House in Orlando, Fla.
 
Butler improves to 4-2 on the season, while Penn State is also now 4-2.
 
The Bulldogs will play Sunday in the fifth-place game of the tournament.

COACH THAD MATTA: "I thought we did a pretty good job sticking to the plan, getting the lead going into halftime. We wanted to get out to a good start in the second half. They're the type of team that's never going to go away because of their pressure, their pressing, that sort of thing. But I think the biggest difference for us was two turnovers in the second half. We did a great job taking care of the basketball. I thought our bench today was absolutely fantastic. Those guys came in and gave us a great lift."
 
OF NOTE:

• Brooks shot 9-for-13 from the field, including 5-for-9 from three-point range. His previous career-high was 16 points in the season-opener against Eastern Michigan.
• Telfort made six of his seven attempts in the second half en route to his 18 total points.
• Butler led, 42-39, at halftime and extended their lead to double figures for the first time at 57-47 with 14:19 to play. The Bulldogs never trailed after the 1:43 mark of the first half.
• DJ Davis scored 14 points to go along with a career-high seven rebounds.
• Andre Screen and Telfort tied for the team-high with eight rebounds.
• For the second game in a row, Butler shot 50 percent from the field.
• Butler went 17-for-19 from the free throw line, while Penn State was only 6-for-8.
• Butler committed only nine turnovers in the game.
• Kanye Clary led Penn State with 28 points.
• Posh Alexander picked up his second foul of the first half with 9:15 remaining and Butler leading, 20-19. Penn State followed with a 13-3 run to take the largest lead of the half at 32-23.
• Butler responded with six straight points and eventually took back the lead at 35-34 at the 2:47 mark.
• Butler led, 42-39, at the half. Fourteen of Brooks' points came over the first 20 minutes. 
• Butler is now 3-2 all-time against Penn State.

 
UP NEXT: ESPN Events Invitational play in Orlando concludes Sunday. Butler's opponent will come from tonight's VCU-Boise State match-up. Butler will play the winner of that game Sunday at 4 p.m. in the fifth-place game of the event. ESPN2 will broadcast the game.