INDIANAPOLIS – The Privateers went on an 11-2 run midway through the first, but the sold-out crowd of 9,118 inside Hinkle Fieldhouse saw its home team improve to 2-0 as the Butler Bulldogs (2-0) defeated New Orleans (1-1) 79-53 Saturday evening.
Butler's home win streak over nonconference opponents improved to 53 games.
Damion Rosser finished with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting, three blocks and two steals,
Troy Green added 12 points and
Bryson Robinson moved to sixth place on the program's three-pointers made list with two triples tonight.
FIRST HALF
The Bulldogs continued its hot shooting from their season opening win over IUPUI, jumping out to a 23-5 lead with 11:49 remaining in the opening stanza. Following the under-12 media, the Privateers picked up the pace, beginning with Rosser's dunk out of the break. The junior followed with a steal and layup as New Orleans hit 4-of-5 and forced three Butler turnovers for an 11-2 run to make it 25-16.
Gerrale Gates' putback with 6:59 to go cut the Bulldogs' lead to single digits, but Butler went into the halftime break with a 45-29 edge.
Rosser led the way with eight points, followed by Robinson's seven. Robinson's trey at the 8:47 marker tied the senior with
Leonard Bennett for sixth on the program's three-pointers made list. He later surpassed the mark in the second half. Gates picked up four rebounds.
SECOND HALF
The Bulldogs cooled down in the second half but kept the game in double figures to upend the Privateers 79-53.
In the second, freshmen
Raquan Brown and
Rodney Carson Jr. hit three-pointers.
FROM COACH
"I'm very aware of what this place (Hinkle Fieldhouse) means. Hats off to Butler."
NEXT UP
The Privateers visit SMU Tuesday for a 7 p.m. contest in Dallas. The game will be streamed live on ESPN3.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersMBB on Twitter,
@PrivateersMBB on Instagram, like
/PrivateersMBB on Facebook and subscribe to the
UNOPrivateers YouTube channel.
