Big East Basketball: Butler's strong push late leads to win over DePaul

Winning on the road in a Big East basketball game continues to be very difficult.

It might not have been what Butler fans were looking for on Saturday, but their team was able to recover from a 25-5 early deficit to snag a road win.

Despite an all-around poor shooting day by both teams, Butler was led by guard Kethan Savage, who dropped in 20 points. In what was yet another impressive game by the freshman, Kamar Baldwin added 18 points, including a late step-back three and the go-ahead free throws with 3.7 seconds left in overtime.

For DePaul, Eli Cain poured in a career-high 32 points, including 6-of-11 from behind the arc. The Blue Demons used outstanding three-point shooting on the day (11-of-25, 45 percent) to build up their early lead, but were unable to hold on late.

Butler shot just 35.9 percent from the field on the day, as they once again showed their vulnerability in the first half of games. Although the Dawgs only trailed by two at the break, the lead was up to 20 at one point.

Down the closing stretch, it was far from a blowout. With 2.1 seconds left in regulation, Butler held the one-point lead, but Eli Cain was fouled. Cain stepped to the free throw line and made just one of two. With the Dawgs and Demons headed to overtime, the next five minutes were as nail-biting as the first 40.

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After a step-back three from Baldwin with 24.9 seconds remaining, Butler held a two-point lead, only to be answered by an And-1 from Billy Garrett Jr. (16 points). Yet, while trailing by one, it was Baldwin once again who attacked the basket, got fouled and made the go-ahead free throws to give Butler the one point win.

In the end, this close game came down to foul shooting and turnovers. It wasn’t a great night for Butler from the line, but their 69.2 percent far outstretched DePaul’s 58.3 percent. Close games are won at the free throw line, and the Baldwin did just that for the Bulldogs, making his only free throw attempts for their last points.

Butler ranks in the top-10 in the country in taking care of the ball, and that did not change in this one. Butler committed just six turnovers on the day, while DePaul gave up the ball 12 times. Butler did not capitalize with points off turnovers very often (just four on the day), but their defensive stands made the difference. DePaul did not make a field goal during much of the second half, causing the lead they had built up to crumble down the stretch of the game.

Moving forward, DePaul will need to win the conference tournament in order to make the Big Dance in March. They have now fallen to 1-6 in conference play and are four games under .500 for the year. With a road game against Creighton coming up, the road does not get any easier for the Blue Demons.

As for Butler, the team moved to 17-3 and 6-2 in the Big East. Now, winners of three straight, Butler stays on the road for their next game, which comes against Seton Hall. After that, the Bulldogs return home for a two-game stretch that consists of Georgetown and Creighton. This game might not have gone as planned for Butler, but their status among the elite teams in the country remains constant.

Next: OG Anunoby, Dillon Brooks and other updates

This was another poor night from the field by Kelan Martin, who was just 3-of-13 in adding 12 points, but once he starts to get back in rhythm, this Butler team can be very scary. Currently listed as a three seed in this week’s Bracketology, the Dawgs are in great shape moving forward. Although this game went to overtime and was hard-fought throughout, this will go down as just another win for Butler.

Big East Basketball: Butler’s strong push late leads to win over DePaul

By Lukas Harkins | Jan 21, 2017

Winning on the road in a Big East basketball game continues to be very difficult.

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