Behind 20 points from both Jahmyl Telfort and Patrick McCaffery, Butler posted a 73-58 win over Eastern Illinois Tuesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
 
Butler shot 52 percent from the field in securing their sixth straight win.
 
The Bulldogs improve to 7-1 on the season, while EIU falls to 2-6.
 
HOW IT TRANSPIRED:

• EIU kept the game close early by hitting five of their first six attempts from three-point range. That allowed the visitors to hold a 24-22 advantage with 5:22 remaining in the half.
• Butler closed the final five minutes of the first half on a 14-3 run to take a 36-27 lead into the locker rooms. Telfort led all scorers with 10 of his points in the first half.
• The Bulldogs' lead grew to 18 less than three minutes into the second half (48-30).
• After EIU cut the lead to seven (55-48) with 7:50 to play, Butler responded with the next eight points to push the lead back to 15 and secure the win.

 
NOTEWORTHY:

• Telfort, the current BIG EAST Player of the Week, made all 10 of his free throw attempts and hit five of his six shots from the field in scoring 20 points. He went over 20 points for the third consecutive game and fourth time this season.
• McCaffery matched his season-high with five three-pointers to get to his 20 points; he added seven rebounds. For McCaffery, it was his second 20-point game of the season and the ninth of his career.
• Kolby King narrowly missed a double-double with 10 points and a career-high nine rebounds.
• Butler out-rebounded EIU, 41-27.
• The Bulldogs were slowed by 17 turnovers.
• Butler went 20-for-25 from the free throw line. The Bulldogs have made at least 17 free throws and shot at least 70 percent from the free throw line in each game this season.
• Andre Screen, who celebrated his birthday Tuesday, had six points and eight rebounds.
• Kooper Jacobi led EIU with 22 points; he made five three-pointers.
• Butler's defense limited the Panthers to 33-percent shooting. The Bulldogs entered the game ranked 13^th nationally in field goal percentage defense.
• Butler and EIU have now met eight times in the all-time series; the Bulldogs have won the three most recent meetings to level the series, 4-4.
• Thad Matta's first game as a head coach, which came Nov. 18, 2000 in his first stint at Butler, was a 90-73 win over Eastern Illinois at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

 
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs head to No. 17/18 Houston Saturday for a tip that is part of the annual BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle. Fans can watch the game on ESPN2 or listen to the audio feed provided by Mark Minner and Nick Gardner via the Varsity Network app. The tip is set for 5:30 p.m. (Eastern, 4:30 p.m. Central).