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#BoilerNotes
- Purdue is now 7-5 overall following a 70-61 loss to No. 17-ranked Butler on Saturday in Indianapolis … the win snapped a two-game winning streak against Butler.
- Purdue is now 2-7 all-time in the Crossroads Classic … five of the losses have come by single-digits.
- Purdue was 6-5 a year ago after the Crossroads Classic, winning 20 of its last 25 games to reach the Elite Eight … the Boilermakers are 7-5 this year.
- Purdue once again played without center Matt Haarms, who was averaging over 11 points, six rebounds and almost three blocks a game.
- Purdue has held every opponent it has played to 70 or fewer points … Purdue is 7-0 this year when holding foes to 59 or fewer points, but is 0-5 when teams score 60-plus.
- Purdue is now 11-2 over its last 13 games against in-state opponents, with both losses coming at the Crossroads Classic.
- Trevion Williams recorded his fourth career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds … Purdue is 1-3 during his career when he has a double-double.
- Purdue was 10 of 37 (.270) from 2-point range, but was 9 of 20 (.450) from 3-point range.
- Purdue was outrebounded for the first time this season.
INDIANAPOLIS - Bryce Golden scored 14 points and No. 17 Butler used relentless defense to pull away from Purdue 70-61 on Saturday in the second game of the Crossroads Classic.
The Bulldogs (11-1) have won two straight since losing at No. 11 Baylor.
Trevion Williams led Purdue (7-5) with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Boilermakers have lost two of their last three games and two straight in the event that brings Indiana's four best-known programs to Indianapolis for a December doubleheader.
But with two of the nation's best scoring defenses on the floor, it was a real grind.
Butler finally tied it at 19 on Christian David's dunk with 6:15 left in the first half, then pulled out to a 26-21 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs then opened the second half on a 14-5 spurt to make it 40-26 and they never trailed again.
Purdue did manage to make one late run with Williams' 5-foot jumper capping a 15-3 spurt that got the Boilermakers to 60-55 with 2:04 to go.
They cut the deficit to four with 55.6 seconds, but the Bulldogs sealed the win from the free-throw line.
BIG PICTURE
Butler: Defensively, these Bulldogs really have some bite. They've already held six teams to fewer than 55 points and probably would have made it seven if not for the continual parade to the free-throw line over the last 10 minutes. If they continue to play this well in Big East play, there's no ceiling for Butler.
Purdue: The Boilermakers' offense has struggled mightily over the past few weeks and it happened again Saturday. Purdue actually shot better from 3-point range (3 of 9) than it did inside the arc (3 of 19) in the first half. Yes, they're gritty but they need to find more consistent scoring options before conference play begins.
STAT SHEET
Butler: The victory margin was the school's largest in the nine-year history of the Classic. ... The Bulldogs are 12-5 all-time at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. ... Aaron Thompson and Jordan Tucker each scored 12 points. Thompson also had six assists. ... Sean McDermott finished with 11 points and five rebounds. ... Butler was 7 of 19 on 3s and 21 of 32 from the free-throw line.
Purdue: Aaron Wheeler had 11 points and Eric Hunter Jr. had 10. Both fouled out in the closing minutes. ... The Boilermakers shot 33.3% from the field and wound up 9 of 20 on 3s. ... Purdue only made one more 2-pointer (10) than it did from beyond the arc. ... Williams also had four steals.
UP NEXT
Butler closes out its nonconference schedule Dec. 28 at home against Louisiana Monroe.
Purdue plays its first home game in nearly three weeks against Central Michigan on Dec. 28.