Bulldogs Roll Past Milwaukee
Shelvin Mack posted a career-high scoring total
and Gordon Hayward added his sixth double-double of the season to
help power Butler past visiting Milwaukee, 80-67, in a Horizon
League game at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Saturday, Jan. 2. The win
lifted the Bulldogs to 10-4 on the season and kept Butler unbeaten
in three league outings.
Mack scored on a variety of long-range jump shots and drives to the
basket to compile 25 points against the Panthers. It was the
highest single game scoring total by a Butler player this season
and was three points more than his previous career-high, set
against both UAB and Youngstown State a year ago.
“My teammates did a great job of setting me up for
shots,” said Mack after the game. “And I was able
to drive the lane, because Matt (Howard) did a good job of sealing
his man.”
Hayward provided plenty of support with 16 points and 10
rebounds. He hit six of seven shots from the field, including
one from beyond the three-point arc, and three of four from the
free throw stripe. The 6-9 guard helped Butler to a 38-24
rebounding advantage in the game.
The Bulldogs never trailed after the 16-minute mark of the first
half and built as much as a 19-point lead in the second half.
Butler out-scored Milwaukee, 20-6, on “second chance”
points and 23-11 at the free throw line.
The visiting Panthers (8-7, 1-3 HL) jumped in front on a basket by
James Eayrs after the opening tip and held leads at 4-2 and 6-5
before Butler took its first lead, 8-6, on Hayward’s
three-point field goal from the corner. Milwaukee tied the
game at 8-8, before Butler went on a 5-0 run to take the lead for
good.
Junior Zach Hahn started Butler’s run with a jump shot and
junior Shawn Vanzant followed with a pair of free throws.
Hayward added a free throw to make it 13-8, and the Bulldogs never
looked back.
Butler led by as many as 14 points late in the first half, before
setting for a 37-28 halftime advantage. Milwaukee opened the
second half with a three-point play by Eayrs to cut Butler’s
margin to six, 37-31, but the Bulldogs answered with nine straight
points to take a double-digit lead that they never
relinquished.
Mack scored 13 points in the second half and Hayward added 10 to
help keep the Bulldogs on top. Vanzant,, who hit a
career-best eight of eight free throws, joined Mack and Hayward in
double-figures for the game with 12 points.
Forward Anthony Hill came off the bench to lead Milwaukee
with 18 points, 13 coming in the second half, while Eayrs added
11.
The Bulldogs will face two of the league’s top contenders on
the road next weekend, beginning with a game at Wright State on
Friday, Jan. 8. That game at the Nutter Center is scheduled
for 7 p.m. Butler will play at Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 10, at
1 p.m
