Smith, Clarke lead No. 19 Butler to sixth straight win
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Correspondent
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler is back in the Top 25 for the first time in two seasons.
The Bulldogs plan to stay a while.
Andrew Smith and Rotnei Clarke each scored 20 points to lead No. 19 Butler past Evansville 75-67 Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs won their sixth straight overall and first in three tries against the Aces.
Butler (9-2) put to rest any fears of a letdown in playing its first game since upsetting then top-ranked Indiana a week ago.
Whether it’s Indiana or Evansville, you’re capable of losing, Smith said. Evansville is capable of beating anybody. We treat every game the same. We’re in a groove right now.
Smith led the team with a season-high four assists and shot an efficient 6 for 8 from the field while hitting 7 of 9 free throws. He also added six rebounds and blocked two shots in 32 minutes.
He’s playing with more confidence, Evansville coach Marty Simmons said. I’ve been a big fan. He’s very unselfish. He has the ability to stretch you.
For Smith, his big day was a form of redemption. In last year’s season opener at Evansville, he missed two free throws with 0.2 seconds remaining, either of which could have given Butler the lead. The Bulldogs went on to lose 80-77 in overtime.
Butler made sure Saturday’s game never reached that point.
The Bulldogs maintained a double-digit advantage for most of the final 7 minutes. Colt Ryan connected on a 3-pointer with 25 seconds left to pull the Aces within 71-67, but Smith was fouled and made both free throws. After Ned Cox missed a 3 that could have drawn Evansville within three, Clarke hit two foul shots to close the scoring.
Ryan had 25 points, five assists, five rebounds and five steals. Cox had 12 points and Ryan Sawvell added 10, including a team-high eight in the first half. Evansville (7-5) shot just 41 percent from the field and was outrebounded 39-29.
We’ve got to execute for 40 minutes, Simmons said. We did a lot of good things. Little things we didn’t execute that you have to do against a good team like Butler.
Butler improved to 5-0 against in-state competition by defeating the southern Indiana school from the Missouri Valley Conference. The Bulldogs are 5-0 at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Kellen Dunham scored 13 points and Roosevelt Jones had 12 for Butler, which shot 49 percent from the field for a second straight game. Kameron Woods had a double-double off the bench with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
We thought Kam’s length and athleticism would work today, Stevens said of his decision to use Woods ahead of Erik Fromm, who was a key contributor in defeating the Hoosiers.
Evansville closed the first half on a 10-5 run to trail just 35-31 at the break. Clarke had 10 at halftime, but the Bulldogs struggled to hit 3s and committed three turnovers while going scoreless in the final 2:40 of the half.
Stevens was no more pleased with how Butler finished.
Holiday break started with about 3 minutes left, Stevens said. We just quit playing. You’re never going to be perfect.
Ryan had nine points in the final 2:18, but the Aces’ leading scorer missed 14 of his first 18 shots and went just 8-of-22 overall.
Simmons angrily called timeout after Clarke splashed a 3, one of only four for Butler, to give the Bulldogs a 25-17 lead. The shot capped an 8-0 run. Evansville did not hold a lead after the first 10 minutes.
Still, the Bulldogs struggled to take a big lead until Clarke’s 3 stretched the lead to 14 with a little more than 4 minutes left.
The hardest part (of the schedule) is rivals in the state and teams you’ve played against, Stevens said. I’m proud how we’ve managed.
Butler forward Khyle Marshall had a strange afternoon. He did not score and only attempted two shots in 17 minutes.
Butler has a week off before playing at Vanderbilt Dec. 29.
Clarke and Smith ensured the team could enjoy the time with their families.
Freshmen and sophomores played excellent for the most part, Stevens said, before alluding to his senior duo. Those two guys are our leaders.
