INDIANAPOLIS — The Butler Bulldogs (11-1) showed up at Bankers Life Fieldhouse ready to play on Saturday afternoon. They were the aggressor from the opening tip until the clock read zeros. They went right at the Purdue Boilermakers (7-5) beating them 70-61 in the Crossroads Classic.
Bryce Golden led the Bulldogs with 14 points. Both Aaron Thompson and Jordan Tucker finished with 12 apiece. Sean McDermott dropped off 11 on his way to Big Momma’s house.
Purdue was led by Trevion Williams’ 12 points followed by Aaron Wheeler’s 11.
The Boilermakers looked as though they were going to ball out when they started the game on an 8-2 run. However, the Butler Bulldogs weren’t about to just watch them run them out of the gym. After all, they were 10-1 coming into the Crossroads Classic. At the 12 minute mark of the first half they had climbed to within 3 points only down 11-8.
At the 7:42 mark of the first half the Bulldogs had climbed back to knot it up at 15-15 on an Aaron Thompson layup only to go up 24-17 on a Jordan Tucker 3-ball by the 3:39 mark.
Purdue couldn’t buy a bucket with some old school food stamps in the first half shooting a mere 21 percent from the field. Butler on the other hand, was shooting that thang at a 48 percent clip from the field.
At the break the Bulldogs were on top 26-21. It was incredible that Purdue was only down 5 points shooting as poorly as they did.
Butler came out of the break playing hella defense and shooting the rock. Within 2 and a half minutes Butler was up 34-21 after going on an 8-0 run.
Purdue must have gotten into Big Momma’s cough syrup before this game because they’ve completely fallen asleep at the wheel. They couldn’t shoot and weren’t playing a lick of defense. By the time I bit into my hot dog they were down 40-26.
Give credit to Butler for out-playing and hustling them. It was obvious who came to play. For the better part of the game the Boilermakers shot less than 25 percent from the field. They finally were able to finish the game shooting 33 percent from the field and 45 percent from behind the arc.
However, it was too little too late. Butler’s consistency was too much for them.
