By Nick Jenkinson-SCINN Sports Director <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Indiana Hoosiers beat the Butler Bulldogs 96-68 in the first men\u2019s exhibition game in front of a sold-out crowd of 9,100 at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. This was the first time since November 27, 1993, that Indiana and Butler will meet in Hinkle Fieldhouse as Butler beat Indiana 75-71. This was first meeting between the two teams since Indiana won the last meeting on December 19, 2020, 68-60 in Bankers Life Fieldhouse now Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before tonight\u2019s matchup Indiana and Butler have met 55 times with the Hoosiers winning 40 of those meetings. Indiana has won the last two meetings both in Indianapolis and has a 6-4 record against the Bulldogs since the turn of the century. Even though this one will not count Indiana has won 41 of the 56 meetings and is 7-4 now against Butler since the turn of the century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Darren Harris, Markus Burton and Samet Yigitoglu all scored 13 points for the Hoosiers to lead the way with Aiden Sherrell adding 10 points. The Hoosiers played 14 of 17 players that were available as Freshman Vaughn Karvala who has been banged up during preseason did not play as a precaution to get him fully healed along with Jordan Rayford and Walk on Ben Winker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jalen Jackson led Butler with 17 points and Jordan Ellerbee added 16 points off the bench. Butler played 13 of 15 players on its roster as Freshman Marko Maric and Samu Adler did not play. Butler finished the game 22-61 from the field for 36%, 8-29 from three-point range for 27% and 16-25 from the free throw line for 64%. The Bulldogs pulled down 33 rebounds, 14 assists, 8 steals, 3 blocks and 10 turnovers. Butler scored 32 bench points, 28 points in the paint, 10 points off turnovers, 8 fast break points and 5 second chance points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Butler led 2-0 on an alley oop from Eduardo Klafke to Drayton Jones 30 seconds into the game and it was their only lead of the game for 58 seconds. Indiana took over as Markus Burton drained three triples and was fouled by going to the basket as the Hoosiers led 13-4 with 14:16 to go in the first half as Burton had 11 points. Indiana got the inside game going as Sam Alexis scored his first bucket of the ball game and Samet Yigitolou the 7-2 Transfer from SMU scored twice to make it 19-12 Hoosiers with 10:37 left in the first half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Out of the timeout Jaeden Mustaf both free throws to make it 21-212 Hoosiers. Butler chipped away at the lead as Jalen Jackson hit two free throws to make it 26-23 Indiana before Darren Harris drained a three pointer with 7:28 left to make 29-23 Hoosiers. The Bulldogs kept fighting as the trailed 34-29 with 3:48 left before the break. Bryce Lindsay hit a three pointer to make it 37-29 as Butler went on a 12-7 run as Indiana led 44-41 at halftime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Markus Burton led the Hoosiers with 13 points and Samet Yigitoglu added 10 points in the first half. Indiana was 16-37 from the field for 43%, 6-16 from three-point range for 37% and 6-10 at the free throw line for 60%. The Hoosiers had 30 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal and 7 turnovers. The Hoosiers had 20 points in the paint, 15 second chance points, 8 bench points, 2 fast break points and no points off turnovers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jordan Ellerbee came off the bench for Butler to lead the Bulldogs with 15 points in 14 minutes and 28 seconds of action. The Bulldogs were 13-34 from the field for 38%, 6-18 from three-point range for 33% and 9-13 from the free throw line for 69%. Butler pulled down 15 rebounds, 9 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks and 1 turnover in the first half. Butler had 20 bench points, 14 points in the paint, 8 points off turnovers, 6 fast break points and 5 second chance points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the second half Butler cut the Hoosiers lead to one on two occasions it was 44-43 Hoosiers with 19:14 left in the second half as Drayton Jones hit two free throws but the Hoosiers responded with a Adien Sherrill three pointer to make it 47-43 with 18:22 left in the second half. Jalen Jackson hit a three pointer with 14:54 left to make it 54-53 Hoosiers but Bryce Lindsay drained a triple to increase the lead to 4 points with 14:38 left in the game. Indiana increased the lead to double digits when Trevor Manhetz drained a three pointer with 10:57 left in the game to make it 67-55 Hoosiers. Indiana increased the lead to 19 points 75-56 with a Darren Harris pullup jumper with 8:32 left in the game. With 8:14 to go Indiana\u2019s Markus Burton and Butler\u2019s Christian Moore both received technical fouls as they fighting for a held ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indiana closed out the game, outscoring the Bulldogs 21-12 as Butler did go on 8-0 run late in the game as the Hoosiers outscored the Bulldogs 52-27 in the second half. The Hoosiers finished 34-73 from the field for 46%, 13-33 from three-point range for 39% and 15-22 from the free throw line for 68%. Indiana pulled down 53 rebounds, 16 assists, 6 steals, 3 blocks and 12 turnovers. The Hoosiers had 42 points in the paint, 40 bench points, 25 second chance points, 17 points off turnovers, 13 fast break points and led for 38 minutes and 32 seconds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Butler will host Indiana State Next Sunday evening at 6:30 PM and travel to Ohio State on Sunday October 25, at 2 PM for their exhibition game. Butler will open the regular season hosting Lafayette on Monday November 2nd<\/sup> at 7 PM. The Bulldogs have a difficult non-conference schedule traveling to Boise State and North Carolina along with neutral site games against Nebraska in Chicago and Georgia Tech at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and hosting Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Indiana will face North Carolina Next Sunday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis in the second exhibition game at 5 PM and then battle Western Kentucky at 4 PM on Sunday October 25, for the third and final exhibition at the Ford Center in Evansville. The Hoosiers will open the regular season on Monday October 2, when they welcome the Eastern Illinois Panthers to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall at 7 PM. Indiana will host UCF and Missouri at Home and face Syracuse, Kentucky and Arkansas in neutral site matchups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Indiana did what it needed to do in this exhibition game come out and show what they needed to go and that they are going to be better than a year ago. Indiana has size, speed and depth and balance scoring and the pieces are already clicking together and it\u2019s just the start of the season. The Hoosiers showed that it will be a much better team than a season ago and give Hoosier Nation that they can make a run at the Big Ten Title and the NCAA Tournament.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Nick Jenkinson-SCINN Sports Director The Indiana Hoosiers beat the Butler Bulldogs 96-68 in the first men\u2019s exhibition game in front of a sold-out crowd of 9,100 at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. This was the first time since November 27, 1993, that Indiana and Butler will meet in Hinkle Fieldhouse as Butler beat Indiana …<\/p>\n