In one of the wildest games so far of the college basketball season, Butler defeated Texas Tech 103-95 in the Big East vs Big 12 Battle on Thursday night in front of 7,893 fans at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
The Bulldogs gutted out the win in overtime by weathering the Red Raiders second half rally which was fueled by three point shooting and several big plays down the stretch that sent the game into the extra session. Butler would go on to outscore Texas Tech 20-12 in overtime to put the game away and send the Bulldog faithful home happy.
Five Bulldogs reached double figures on Thursday evening. Butler was led in scoring by Seniors Jahmyl Telfort and D.J. Davis who scored 26 and 25 points respectively. Also having a big contribution for the Bulldogs was fellow Senior guard Posh Alexander who became the first Butler Bulldog to post a triple double in a game since Roosevelt Jones in 2016. Alexander finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. Junior Pierre Brooks contributed 18 points of his own and helped seal the win in overtime with a baseline three pointer in the final minute. Center Andre Screen added 14 points off the bench.
Butler looked like a well oiled machine on the offensive side of the ball. Texas Tech tried their best to defend the Bulldogs but Butler had an answer for every run the Red Raiders made. Butler's offense was clicking all game. Telfort and Davis got it done from the perimeter and Andre Screen dominated on the inside. Texas Tech tried to go to a zone, Butler found openings in the zone and moved the ball inside and out. Butler's passing was crisp and it seemed everybody touched the ball on possessions which led to baskets. Butler shot 55 percent from the field on Thursday. The 103 points are the most scored by the Bulldogs in a game since they scored 101 against Villanova in 2018.
Texas Tech was led in scoring by Chance McMillian who poured in 24 points. McMillian was on fire from long range, going 8-10 from the three point line. Point guard Joe Toussaint added a double double, scoring 20 points and dishing out 12 assists. Also scoring in double figures for the Red Raiders was Devin Cambridge who scored 16 points and Warren Washington who added 10 points.
Butler was in control for most of the first half and built a 45-38 lead at halftime. Butler led by as many as 10 points in the second half before Tech made their rally. The Red Raiders would go on a 25-10 run in the second half to take their first lead of the game since the opening minutes at 68-67. Texas Tech would extend their lead to 73-67 with four minutes to go.
The Bulldogs would respond and retook the lead at 80-79 on a three pointer by D.J. Davis with one minute to go. Texas Tech answered and led 81-80 with 35 seconds left. Jahmyl Telfort would hit a three pointer to give butler a 83-81 lead with 20 seconds remaining. Butler's defense broke down on the final possession when Joe Toussaint drove in the lane and kicked it out to Pop Issacs who then would make a layup in the lane to tie the game and send it into overtime.
In overtime the lead would change three times before Butler asserted themselves and would take the lead for good after a three pointer by Telfort in the corner put Butler ahead 92-89. Pierre Brooks would add five points of his own in overtime to extend the lead and eventually the final horn sounded and Butler would be victorious 103-95. Butler outscored Texas Tech 20-12 in the extra session. Very gritty win by the Bulldogs at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Butler has now won three in a row and their record stands at 6-2 on the young season while the Red Raiders record drops to 5-2. Both of Texas Tech's losses have come at the hands of Big East opponents, they were defeated by Villanova on November 22nd. Butler's next game is home against Buffalo next Tuesday night and the Red Raiders travel back to Lubbock to take on Omaha next Wednesday.
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