Butler scored the first 17 points of the game and never looked back in an 88-58 win over the University of Southern Indiana at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
 
Both Michael Ajayi and Jamie Kaiser Jr. posted double-doubles in their respective Butler regular season debuts.
 
Wednesday's tip marked the 2025-26 season-opener for both programs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Butler opened the game making eight of their first 11 attempts from the field, building that 17-0 advantage.
• USI's first point of the game came at the 13:27 mark of the first half.
• Butler's lead was trimmed to seven on two occasions later in the first half before a 15-2 run gave the Bulldogs their first 20-point lead of the game (42-22 with 2:46 remaining in the first half).
• Butler led, 52-26, at the half and the advantage never dipped below 19 in the second half.

 
TIP-INS:

• Ajayi finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. He went 11-for-14 from the free throw line. It marked his 20^th double-double of his career. Ajayi scored nine of Butler's first 15 points and had 18 points and nine rebounds in the first half.
• Kaiser posted the first double-double of his career with 12 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. His previous career-best rebounding total was six during his time at Maryland; he had five rebounds in the first four minutes of this game.
• Ajayi and Kaiser are the first Butler duo to post double-doubles in the same game since Aaron Thompson and Bryce Nze accomplished the feat Feb. 9, 2021 against St. John's (Thompson's double-double included assists).
• Yohan Traore scored 15 points to go along with six rebounds in 15 minutes of action in his Butler debut.
• Butler held a commanding 56-35 rebounding edge.
• The Bulldogs limited USI to 29-percent shooting.
• Butler converted 12 USI turnovers into 20 points.
• Butler had 44 points in the paint and 22 fast-break points.
• Jalen Jackson scored 11 points and handed out six assists, one shy of his career-high.
• USI had four players in double figures, led by Kaden Brown's 13 points.
• The teams last played in 1984; Butler now leads the all-time series, 4-0.
• The Bulldogs have now won their home opener in 27 consecutive seasons; that dates back to 1998 when Missouri State (then referred to as Southwest Missouri State) won a 72-57 decision at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
• Butler is 83-5 in their last 88 home games against non-conference teams.
• Thad Matta is 25-4 at Hinkle Fieldhouse against non-conference opponents as Butler's head coach (which includes the 2000-01 season and since his return in 2022).

 
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs continue their season-opening home stand Saturday, hosting IU Indianapolis at 5 p.m. Tickets are still available for the contest, which will also air on ESPN+.