Butler erased all of a 23-point deficit before ultimately falling to North Dakota State by a score of 71-68 Tuesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
 
The Bison duo of Jacari White and Jacksen Moni combined for 52 points.
 
With the win, NDSU improves to 8-4 on the season, while Butler falls to 7-3.
 
 
HOW IT TRANSPIRED:

• The first half belonged to White, who made nine of his 10 attempts from the field (including six three-pointers), as he scored 24 points over the first 20 minutes of the game; Moni added 14.
• The Bison closed the first half on a prolonged 9-0 run over the final four minutes to take a 44-23 halftime lead, which was the team's largest advantage of the half.
• NDSU's lead got to as many as 23 (50-27) less than two minutes into the second half.
• That is when Butler awoke. A 15-3 run trimmed the lead to 10 at 53-43 with 12:32 remaining. And the Bulldogs kept coming.
• A Patrick McCaffery three-pointer with 3:56 to play gave Butler a 64-62 lead and Pierre Brooks II would follow that with another trey for a five-point advantage with 2:59 remaining (capping a 17-2 run).
• Four empty possessions and an 8-0 run by NDSU gave the visitors the lead once again, ultimately leading 70-67 with 19 seconds on the clock.
• Butler made a free throw and then was able to secure a jump ball for possession, but a blocked layup and a missed three-pointer were the final empty attempts for the Bulldogs.

 
 
NOTEWORTHY:

• Brooks led Butler with 26 points and seven rebounds. He went 4-for-6 from the three-point line.
• Jahmyl Telfort added 23 points for Butler. It marked the second time that both Brooks and Telfort have each scored 20 points for Butler in the same game since each arrived at the beginning of the 2023-24 season.
• Butler had 15 assists and committed a season-low four turnovers.
• The Bulldogs were looking for their first 20-point comeback since Dec. 27, 2017 when Butler trailed by as many as 20 before winning at Georgetown in double overtime (91-89).
• White led NDSU with 27 points, but had only three in the second half. Moni finished with 25 points.
• Butler is 5-2 at Hinkle Fieldhouse this season.
• NDSU entered the game averaging 11.9 made three-pointers per game, which was fourth nationally. A nation-leading 54.8 percent of their attempts entering the game came from behind the three-point line. The Bison finished 13-for-30 from behind the arc.
• Augusto Cassia left the game with a knee injury sustained with 10:19 remaining in the second half (and Butler trailing 57-47).

 
 
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs close the non-conference portion of the schedule Saturday afternoon, making the short drive downtown to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to participate in the Indy Classic. Butler will meet No. 20/22 Wisconsin at 2:30 p.m., following a match-up between Purdue and Texas A&M. Fans can watch the game on Big Ten Network or listen to the audio feed provided by Mark Minner and Nick Gardner via the Varsity Network app.