Purdue lacks killer instinct in loss

By Doug Healey
Assistant Sports Editor

For the first time since 1954, the Butler Bulldogs won in Mackey Arena, as they came from behind to defeat Purdue 74-68, ending a 12-game losing streak that dated back to 1968.

Rylan Hainje had a team-high 25 points and seven rebounds, as he pulled Butler back into the game after the Bulldogs (5-0) trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half.

"He loves tough situations and he thrives on the pressure," said Butler coach Todd Lickliter, whose team went on an 18-3 run after trailing 60-50. "When we needed (Hainje) at the end, he was there."

Hainje's 3-pointer gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the game at 61-60 with 3:12 remaining. After a Willie Deane free throw that tied the game at 63, Butler's Joel Cornette had a baseline dunk and Hainje hit a 3-pointer to put Butler ahead 68-63.

Maynard Lewis pulled the Boilers to within two points after he hit a 3-pointer, but Bulldog center Scott Robisch hit a jump shot and point guard Thomas Jackson hit four free throws to end the game.

"You can never count a team out," said Deane. "They just stepped it up. Once the momentum got on (Butler's) side, they just took it over."

Lickliter said his team played with heart and toughness.

"There were a lot of times when it looked bad for us," said Lickliter. "But we wouldn’t stop. … The players adapted and kept adjusting.

"It was very hard-fought. Nothing was given to us. We really persevered."

The Boilers (2-2) started each half strongly, as they began the game with an 11-2 run, followed by a 15-3 run to start the second half. But the Bulldogs answered each Purdue run with 3-point shooting and pressure defense.

Jackson, who Hainje credited as the catalyst in Butler's comeback, had 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting and a team-high six assists. His dribble penetration presented several problems for Purdue's defenders.

"(Jackson) has a lot of gears, and that's what makes him special," said Lickliter. "If you relax at all, he'll take advantage of it."

The Boilers had balanced scoring, as four players scored in double figures. Maynard Lewis led the team with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Deane, who started at point guard in place of Austin Parkinson, who had the flu, had 17 points and a team-high three assists.

Darmetreis Kilgore had 13 points and six rebounds but shot just 4-of-12 from the field and had three turnovers. Rodney Smith, who had averaged 13 points thus far this season, had just four points on 1-of-9 shooting, including 0-5 from the 3-point line.

As a team, Purdue shot 49 percent. But the Boilers were 4 of 15 from the 3-point line.

"We didn’t execute," said Lewis. "I don’t think we took good shots at the end."

For the first time this season, Purdue out-rebounded an opponent, as the Boilers had three more than Butler, 32-29. But the Boilers turned the ball over 18 times compared to Butler's 10.

Even though the Boilers have lost two straight games, it's not time to panic, said Lewis.

"We're gonna get it going," he said. "It's early in the season, so we can't hang our heads. We've got to keep playing hard. We've been through this before. We know what it takes to come back."

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Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki

Assistant sports editor:
Doug Healey

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