A strong second half and 24 points from junior Finley Bizjack allowed Butler to post an 87-80 win over DePaul Tuesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
 
Down four at the half, Butler scored 54 points over the final 20 minutes to take the win.
 
With the decision, Butler improves to 12-7 overall while DePaul is now 11-8. Both teams are 3-5 in BIG EAST play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After trailing 11-2 early, Butler responded later in the half as eight straight points from Evan Haywood gave Butler a 21-20 lead with 9:22 to play.
• DePaul created a little bit of separation with a 7-0 run to take a 32-26 advantage that ultimately became a 37-33 halftime lead.
• After trailing by six early in the second half, a 15-2 run by Butler turned a 41-35 deficit into a 50-43 lead with 15:43 remaining.
• Butler would never trail again as the lead grew to as many as 15 midway through the second half.

 
TIP-INS:

• Bizjack went 7-for-11 from the field for the second consecutive game. He made seven of his eight free throw attempts for his 24 points. It was his seventh 20-point game of the season; he entered the contest third in the BIG EAST in scoring at 16.6 points per game.
• Haywood finished with 15 points, his second-highest output in a Butler uniform.
• The Bulldogs shot 56.9 percent from the field, just shy of their season-high of 57.1 percent against Wright State Nov. 28.
• Michael Ajayi posted 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
• Azavier Robinson scored 13 points and matched Ajayi's five assists.
• Butler went 21-for-31 from the free throw line. The Bulldogs entered the game averaging 26.1 free throw attempts per game, a mark that was 22nd nationally.
• Butler held a 31-29 rebounding advantage, their 15^th game out-rebounding their opponent this season.
• Layden Blocker led DePaul with 20 points. CJ Gunn scored 16 points with 14 of those coming in the first half.
• DePaul shot 41 percent from the field, and hit 10-of-33 from behind the arc.
• Butler has won 12 straight match-ups against the Blue Demons.
• DePaul head coach Chris Holtmann (2014-17) and assistant coach LaVall Jordan (2017-22) both previously served as the head coach at Butler.

 
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs continue a two-game homestand at Hinkle, hosting Marquette Friday. The game serves as Butler's now annual collaboration with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Butler's Checker Out Game.