Butler used a late first-half run and a solid performance from Posh Alexander to capture a 74-64 win over Georgetown Tuesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
 
Alexander led the Bulldogs with 13 points, seven assists and five steals. Butler scored 13 of the final 15 first-half points to take control of the game.
 
With the win – which is the seventh straight for the Bulldogs – Butler improves to 10-2 on the season.
 
Georgetown falls to 7-5. The game served as the BIG EAST opener for both teams.
 
COACH THAD MATTA: (On the team's play late in the first half) "I said to Posh, would you please get this thing to double digits for me by halftime? And he said 'Coach, don't worry about it. I got you.' And he did. We were just sort of trading (baskets) and I thought we had a spurt in us. We went back with our starters over the last four minutes and those guys did a heck of a job."
 
HOW IT TRANSPIRED:

• The Bulldogs closed the first half on a 13-2 run to take a 40-27 halftime lead. Butler led by as many as 15 in the latter stages of the first half.
• Six straight points by the Bulldogs extended Butler's lead to 54-38 with 11:12 to play, which was the largest advantage of the game.
• Georgetown trimmed the lead to only eight at 60-52 with 6:57 remaining before the Bulldogs took control one last time with seven straight points.

 
OF NOTE:

• Butler now has won seven games in a row.
• The Bulldogs are now 8-0 at home this season.
• Alexander led the Bulldogs with 13 points, seven assists and a season-best five steals. His five steals were one shy of his career-best.
• Butler owned a 46-22 advantage in points in the paint and won the battle of the boards, 37-29. 
• Pierre Brooks II added 13 points, fighting through a 4-for-10 shooting performance. He has scored in double figures in every game this season.
• After hitting a season-high 15 three-pointers in the team's most recent outing Friday against Saginaw Valley, the Bulldogs were only able to go 4-for-18 from behind the arc Tuesday night in the BIG EAST opener.
• Butler shot 16-for-18 from the free throw line Tuesday night. Butler's 78.5-percent free throw percentage entering the game was tenth nationally. The Bulldogs have shot 70 percent or better from the free throw line in every game this season.
• Jahmyl Telfort and DJ Davis each scored 12 points for Butler. Davis left the game early in the second half due to an ankle injury and did not return.
• Jalen Thomas had a game-high eight rebounds to go along with eight points and two blocks. 
• Butler shot 46 percent from the field.
• Georgetown shot 39 percent from the field, and had eight assists against only 13 turnovers.
• Dontrez Styles led Georgetown with 19 points.
• The Bulldogs were without sophomore forward Connor Turnbull, who sustained a left elbow injury in recent days. He is out indefinitely.
• Butler now leads the all-time series with Georgetown, 12-11.

 
UP NEXT: Tuesday's contest concluded a five-game homestand for the Bulldogs, who next travel to Providence Saturday. The noon tip will air on FS1. Following a Jan. 2 game at St. John's, the Bulldogs return to Hinkle Fieldhouse Friday, Jan. 5 for a game against defending national champion UConn.