Butler closes out the non-conference portion of the schedule with a Monday matinee against NJIT.
 
Butler Bulldogs (9-3) vs. NJIT (4-8)
Monday, Dec. 22 • 2PM
Hinkle Fieldhouse • Indianapolis, Ind.
 
Follow Along
TV/Stream: ESPN+ • Anthony Mazzini & Joey Brunk
Radio/Audio: Fuego 92.7FM, Butler Sports App, SiriusXM 382, Sirius XM App, TuneIn Radio App & ButlerSports.com • @MarkMinner & Nick Gardner (@n_gardner)
 
As You Take a Quick Break from Your Last-Minute Holiday Shopping
• The only prior match-up between Butler and NJIT was a Bulldog win at Hinkle Fieldhouse Dec. 28, 2013. Three days later -- on New Year's Eve -- Butler played its first conference game as a member of the BIG EAST (an overtime loss to No. 11 Villanova at Hinkle Fieldhouse).
• The Bulldogs are coming off a 61-58 win over Northwestern in the Indy Classic at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
• Michael Ajayi led Butler with 19 points and a career-high 20 rebounds against Northwestern. He is the first Bulldog with 20 rebounds in a game since Tim Haseley, Nov. 26, 1983 against DePauw.
• Ajayi has nine double-doubles in Butler's 12 games this season. Ajayi began the season with six consecutive double-doubles. The last Bulldog to have five or more consecutive double-doubles was Gordon Hayward (with five between Feb. 11-March 6, 2010).
• Ajayi is second nationally, averaging 12.3 rebounds per game.
• Ajayi enters Monday's tip with 990 career points in just under 2.5 seasons of Division I basketball.
• Ajayi has two outputs of at least 15 points and 15 rebounds in his last three games; those are two of the seven games a Butler player has achieved those numbers since 2010.
• Ajayi is one of seven players in NCAA Division I this season to post at least 15 points and 20 rebounds in a single game.
• Butler is averaging 85.2 points per game this season. However, the last two games have featured their two lowest outputs of the season (61 in Saturday's win over Northwestern and 60 in Tuesday's loss at No. 5 UConn).
• Butler's defense limited Northwestern to 58 points Saturday, just three more than the season-low for a Bulldog opponent. The Bulldogs forced Northwestern to shoot only 4-for-23 from three-point range, a season-worst for a Butler opponent. On the season, Butler is allowing opponents to only shoot 31 percent from behind the arc.
• Butler has out-rebounded 10 of its 12 opponents this season. The Bulldogs rank 20th nationally at 42.0 rebounds per game and has a +6.9 rebounding margin on the year.
• Butler ranks 20th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage according to KenPom, collecting 38.6 percent of their misses.
• The Bulldogs only had six games last season with a rebounding margin of +10 or better but have accomplished the feat six times already this season.
• The Bulldogs went 19-for-24 from the free throw line at UConn Tuesday. The 79.2 percentage marked a season-best.
• On the season, Butler is averaging 27.2 free throw attempts per game, which is 19th nationally.
• Evan Haywood has scored in double figures in three consecutive games, including a career-high 18 points in the Dec. 13 win over Providence. Prior to this stretch, he had three double-figure outputs in his first 32 career games.
• Despite shooting only 5-for-29 from three-point range over the last four games, Finley Bizjack is still second in the BIG EAST in three-point shooting at 36 percent. Bizjack and Ajayi are tied for third in the BIG EAST in scoring at 16.8 points per game. 
• Eight different Bulldogs have at least three double-figure scoring games for Butler.
 
There's No Place Like Hinkle
• Butler is 87-6 in their last 93 home games against non-conference teams.
• Thad Matta is 29-5 at Hinkle Fieldhouse against non-conference opponents as Butler's head coach (which includes the 2000-01 season and since his return in 2022).
 
Highlights on the Highlanders
• NJIT enters the contest at 4-8. The Highlanders have not played since Dec. 13. Their America East conference schedule begins Jan. 3.
• Head coach Grant Billmeier is in his third season at NJIT and previously served as an assistant to Kevin Willard for seven seasons at Seton Hall (and one season at Maryland).
• David Bolden (11.8) and Ari Fulton (11.1) both average double figures for NJIT.
 
The Series: Butler leads, 1-0
Streak: Butler, W1
At Hinkle: Butler leads, 1-0
First Meeting: Dec. 28, 2013; BU, 66-48
Last Meeting: Same
 
Up Next
The tip against NJIT closes out the non-conference portion of Butler's schedule. The Bulldogs return to BIG EAST action Tuesday, Dec. 30 at Creighton. Butler's next home game is Jan. 3 against Villanova. 
 
IMS Checker Out Game Set for Jan. 23
• Butler Athletics and Indianapolis Motor Speedway will collaborate on the third annual IMS Checker Out Game Friday, Jan. 23 when the Bulldog men's basketball team hosts Marquette at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
• Fans are asked to "checker out" Hinkle Fieldhouse by wearing a white or dark shirt based on the section of their tickets.
• A significant INDYCAR and IMS presence will be at Hinkle.
 
Hinkle to Host Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships as part of Final Four Weekend in Indianapolis
• Hinkle Fieldhouse will serve as the host venue for the 37th annual State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships, set for Friday, April 3 at 7 p.m. ET.
• The contest will be broadcast nationally at Noon on Sunday, April 5 on ESPN.
• This marks the fourth time the competition will be staged inside the storied home of the Butler Bulldogs.
 
Remembering Daryl Mason
• The Bulldogs have added "Rebound 22" to their shooting shirts as a tribute to Butler Hall of Famer Daryl Mason, who passed away in November after a battle with cancer.
• He was a three-time all-conference selection (1971-72, 1972-73 and 1973-74).
• Mason is Butler's leader in rebounds for a career (961 in three seasons), single season (354) and an individual game (26).
• Michael Ajayi's 20-rebound game against Northwestern came on Mason's birthday of Dec. 20.