Pierre Brooks II logged a game-high 23 issues and 12 rebounds for Butler, which began the second one part with a decisive run to overcome Merrimack 78-39 on Friday evening in Indianapolis.
Andre Display had 12 issues and 9 rebounds whilst Jahmyl Telfort and Patrick McCaffery publish 11 issues apiece for the Bulldogs (4-1). Evan Haywood added 10 issues.
Adam Clark led the Warriors (1-4) with 8 issues. Matt Becht and David Murray each and every chipped in six issues for Merrimack.
The Bulldogs became an in depth recreation right into a rout with a 28-2 run to start out the second one part. Butler led 37-31 at halftime however held Merrimack to 1-for-22 taking pictures from the sphere and 0-of-9 from three-point vary for the primary 14 mins of the second one part.
Merrimack scored simply 8 issues in the second one part. The Warriors shot 29.8 % from the ground for the sport and 14.3 % (3-for-21) from lengthy distance.
Whilst the Warriors blended a 2-3 and 1-3-1 zone to decelerate the Bulldogs’ offensive glide within the first part, it used to be a special recreation after halftime. Butler labored the ball across the perimeter to search out holes within the Merrimack zone. Butler threw excessive to Display, who spun baseline for a layup and a 45-31 lead.
At the subsequent defensive ownership, Display blocked a shot, began the fastbreak with an outlet go, pulled down an offensive rebound which he adopted up with a formidable, two-hand slam because the Bulldogs began to drag away.
McCaffery drilled a nook 3-pointer to provide the Bulldogs a 50-33 edge with 11:14 left within the recreation. Brooks’ jumper with simply over 10 mins left within the recreation gave Butler its first 20 level lead of the sport at 54-33.
A protracted 3-pointer from Brooks with 7:36 left opened the Butler result in 63-33.
Merrimack broke the Butler onslaught with a fastbreak layup by means of Clark with 5:44 left within the recreation, finishing the Warriors’ five-plus-minute scoring drought.
–Box Degree Media