Second Half Run Allows Butler to Pull Away From DePaul

Saturday, February 16

Indianapolis, Ind.

7:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

Butler

DePaul

Butler

Second Half Run Allows Butler to Pull Away From DePaul

2/16/2019 10:33:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes

Max Strus scores 23 points to lead three in double figures

INDIANPOLIS, Ind. – An 11-0 run midway through the second half allowed Butler to pull away from DePaul on Saturday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Max Strus led three players in double figures with 23 points in the 91-78 loss.

Paul Reed opened the scoring with a three-pointer on DePaul's first possession before Butler knocked down five of its first six shots to take an early 15-7 lead.

The Blue Demons trailed by as many as 14 points the first half, but didn't back down with back-to-back three-pointers by Strus and Eli Cain ending the half with DePaul trailing, 44-41.

DePaul (13-11, 5-8 BIG EAST) pulled to within a point early in the second half and again on a three-pointer by Eli Cain with 13:39 left before Butler scored 11 straight to open up a 68-56 advantage. Following a DePaul time out, Femi Olujobi found Paul Reed under the basket for a dunk to end the Butler run.

After a steal by Strus with just over nine minutes left, he found Olujobi for a breakaway dunk that pulled DePaul to within eight at 68-60. Butler answered on its next possession and held off the Blue Demons over the remainder of the game.

Strus added three rebounds and three assists to his 23 points while Cain finished with 17 points and four assists. Olujobi scored 15 points and Jaylen Butz added nine points with eight rebounds off the bench.

Butler (15-11, 6-7 BIG EAST) was led by 25 points from Kamar Baldwin.

Up next for the Blue Demons is a Wednesday night game against the Creighton Bluejays. Creighton visits Wintrust Arena for an 8 p.m. start in the first of two meetings between the teams this season.