Finley Bizjack's 29 points were one shy of his career-high and Michael Ajayi registered his seventh double-double in eight games as Butler took an 84-68 win over Eastern Michigan Tuesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
 
With the win, Butler improves to 7-1 on the season and Eastern Michigan falls to 5-4.
  
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The first half saw 10 lead changes and three ties.
• An 8-0 EMU run turned a four-point Butler lead into a 29-25 Eagles advantage with 5:10 to play.
• Butler closed the first half strong, scoring 16 of the final 23 points for a 41-36 halftime lead.
• A Bizjack three-point play gave Butler its first double-digit lead of the game with 15:01 remaining (52-41).
• From that point forward, the lead was never smaller than eight and grew to as many as 22.

 
TIP-INS:

• Bizjack's season-high 29 points came on 10-for-14 shooting; he matched his career-high with six made three-pointers.
• Butler shot 52 percent from the field and made 11 of 20 three-point attempts (55 percent).
• Ajayi scored 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting and added 13 rebounds (seven offensive).
• Drayton Jones had a season-best five blocks to go along with five points and six rebounds.
• Butler held a 36-26 rebounding advantage, the team's sixth game this season with a rebounding margin of +10 or better.
• The Bulldogs shot a season-best 79 percent from the free throw line (15-19).
• Mohammad Habhab led four Eagles in double figures with 15 points.
• Eastern Michigan went 8-for-14 from three-point range, including making six of seven attempts in the first half.
• Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor made his Butler regular season debut after injuring his ankle in the Oct. 29 exhibition against Notre Dame; he scored two points in 12 minutes of action.
• Jalen Jackson (ankle) missed his second consecutive game. Azavier Robinson started in his place, just as he did in Friday's win over Wright State.
• Eastern Michigan registered a 64-56 road win at Cincinnati Nov. 26, the program's first win over a Power Conference opponent since defeating Michigan in 2024.
• This was only the second meeting in the all-time series between Butler and Eastern Michigan; Butler defeated the Eagles in the 2023-24 season opener.
• Butler is 87-5 in their last 92 home games against non-conference teams.
• Thad Matta is 29-4 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 the homestand at Hinkle, hosting Boise State Saturday (Dec. 6). Tickets are still available for the contest, which will also air on truTV.