Notre Dame came away with a 77-76 exhibition win Friday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as neither team had a player see more than 21 minutes of action in the first contest of the 2025-26 season.
 
TIP-INS:

• Notre Dame's largest lead was 16 (61-45) with 9:01 remaining in the second half before Butler cut the lead all the way down to one as Evan Haywood and freshman Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor combined for a trio of three-pointers in the final 30 seconds of the contest.
• It was Brady Stevens, son of former Butler coach Brad Stevens, who solidified the win for Notre Dame by hitting seven of eight free throws in the closing minutes.
• Finley Bizjack led Butler with 16 points, hitting four three-pointers. Oliogu-Elabor and Jamie Kaiser Jr. each scored 12 points for Butler.
• Butler's Yohan Traore was limited to seven minutes following a fall in the first half going after a contested rebound. He did not return. Jalen Jackson, who has been working his way back from a summer ankle injury, played 11 minutes – all in the first half.
• Markus Burton and Cole Certa led four ND players in double figures with 12 points apiece.
• Each team had 14 assists and 13 turnovers.
• Butler went 13-for-32 from three-point range while Notre Dame hit 12 of their 28 attempts from behind the arc.

 
UP NEXT: The preseason portion of the Bulldogs' schedule continues Wednesday, Oct. 29 when another in-state opponent in Indiana State visits Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler's second and final exhibition is slated for a 7 p.m. tip.