Matt Howard Named Horizon League Player of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Butler senior Matt Howard, who put on a prime time performance in a nationally-televised game, has been named Horizon League Men’s Basketball Player of the Week.  He’s the first Bulldog to be honored this season.

Howard was the dominant performer in Butler’s 83-50 victory over visiting Stanford in the first-ever CBS telecast from Butler’s historic Hinkle Fieldhouse.  The 6-8 Butler forward recorded his fourth double-double of the season with game-highs of 27 points and 10 rebounds.  With 16 minutes remaining in the game, Howard had 23 points and the entire Stanford team had 22.

Butler’s scoring and rebounding leader hit nine of 13 shots in the game, including both of his attempts from beyond the three-point arc.  He also was perfect on seven attempt from the free throw line, and he added an assist and a blocked shot, while playing just 29 minutes in the victory.

The 27 points were the second-highest total of Howard’s Butler career, topping the 26 points he scored one game earlier in a victory over Mississippi Valley State.  Over the past three games, the Butler ace has averaged 23.3 points, while shooting .636 (21-33) from the field and .960 (24-25) from the free throw line.

Howard’s performance against Stanford moved him into the No. 10 spot on Butler’s all-time scoring list.  He enters this week’s action with 1,509 career points.  He also moved into the No. 9 position on Butler’s all-time rebounding chart with 680 career rebounds.

Butler will close out 2010 at the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii.  The Bulldogs will face Utah in the first round of the eight-team tournament on Wednesday, Dec. 22.  The tournament’s second round will be played on Thursday, Dec. 23, with the championship round on Christmas Day.