Butler overcame a seven-point deficit over the final 76 seconds of the game but Jaron Pierre's putback gave host SMU an 87-85 win over Butler Saturday afternoon at Moody Coliseum in Dallas.

Finley Bizjack, who had already hit five three-pointers in the game, pulled up from 10 feet behind the three-point arc but his game-winning attempt caromed off the back of the rim.

With the win, SMU improves to 4-0; Butler suffers its first loss of the season (3-1).

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Bulldogs opened the game with a 10-2 spurt that forced an SMU timeout with 17:49 to play. The first six points came on back-to-back three-pointers from Bizjack as Butler opened 4-for-5 from the field as a team.
• Butler led 43-38 at the half behind 8-for-15 three-point shooting over the first 20 minutes. SMU was 0-for-7 in the first half. The Bulldogs were able to overcome 11 turnovers in the opening frame.
• A 7-0 SMU run gave the home team its first lead since 2-0 as Samet Yigitoglu's follow slam gave SMU a 48-47 advantage with 16:50 remaining, forcing a Butler timeout.
• Seven straight makes by SMU gave the Mustangs a double-digit advantage at 62-52 with 12:35 to play.
• A Boopie Miller three-pointer with 1:41 to play gave SMU a seven-point advantage (85-78) but the next seven points belonged to Butler, capped by a Michael Ajayi three-pointer to tie the game with 37 seconds remaining.

TIP-INS:

• Bizjack had 18 points for the Bulldogs, making five three-pointers for the second consecutive game. It was a homecoming of sorts for the Trophy Club, Texas native (which is approximately 30 miles from the SMU campus).
• Ajayi posted his fourth consecutive double-double to start the season and his Butler career with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
• Miller scored 23 points to go along with 12 assists to lead SMU. Pierre had 18. Samet Yigitoglu and B.J. Edwards each scored 14 points.
• Saturday's tip in Dallas completes a home-and-home series between the two programs that began exactly one year ago (Nov. 15, 2024) in Indianapolis. Butler is now 2-1 all-time against the Mustangs (including a match-up during the 1939-40 season).
• Yohan Traore, who played for SMU during the 2024-25 season, scored nine points for Butler Saturday. 
• Butler had 24 assists on 29 made field goals, but had 17 turnovers.
• Behind 70-percent shooting in the second half, SMU shot 56 percent for the game.
• SMU had 62 points in the paint.
• Butler went 13-for-29 from three-point range but SMU hit only four from behind the arc.

Up Next
The Bulldogs will play South Carolina and Virginia in the Greenbrier Tip-Off Nov. 21 and 23, respectively, before returning to Hinkle for a Nov. 28 tip against Wright State.