INDIANAPOLIS — Guard Bryant McIntosh
More Top Picks Best Rechargeable Headlamps
had 12 points, center Alex Olah added 11 and guard Vic Law Alex had 10, but it was not enough for the Northwestern Wildcats and they fall to the 23rd-ranked Butler Bulldogs, 65-56, at the freshly renovated Hinkle Fieldhouse on Saturday.Northwestern has lost three straight games and has been outscored, 96-66, during the first halves of those games.
McIntosh tied the score, 28-28, on a jump shot with 2:07 to play, but that was the last bucket for Northwestern in the first half.
Butler found success by getting to the basket and drawing fouls.
During the final minute of the half, guard Alex Barlow and forward Andrew Chrabascz drove the lane for a layup plus the foul. Both converted for the old-fashion 3-point play on a 6-0 run and Butler equaled its largest lead of the half, 34-28.
Guard Jershon Cobb fired in a 3-pointer on the Wildcats’ first possession of the second half, to show signs of life for Northwestern, but that was short lived as Butler followed with a 9-2 run and a 43-33 lead that forced coachChris Collins to call a timeout.
Forward Kameron Woods had four points during the run, which was capped off with a 3-pointer from guard Kellen Dunham.
Slowly the Wildcats chipped away at the lead, several ties cutting it to two, the last coming when McIntosh hit a jumper to make it 53-51 with 5:16 to play.
But again the Bulldogs pulled away.
Dunham led Butler with 19 points and Jones added 12. Woods pulled down a game-high nine rebounds to go along with his seven points.
Butler dominated the battle in the paint despite the Wildcats having the height advantage with 7-foot center Alex Olah. The Bulldogs outscored Northwestern, 22-6, inside in the first half and 38-20 by the finish.
NOTES: Butler is Northwestern‘s first ranked opponent of six scheduled, according to the AP poll. …Northwestern G Bryant McIntosh (Greensburg High School) and C Alex Olah (Traders Point Christian Academy) each attended high schools located within an hour of Butler University
More Top Picks Best Label Printers
. … Entering the game, Northwestern‘s 5-2 start was its best since the Wildcats opened the 2012-13 with a 7-0 mark. … Butler entered with 16 straight non-conference home wins. … Butler has won the last five games against Northwestern, but the Wildcats lead the all-time series, 16-10. … Chris Holtermann is Butler’s interim head coach, as Brandon Miller was granted a medical leave of absence on Oct. 2.