INDIANAPOLIS — The Butler Bulldogs opened the season with a win Monday, thanks to a huge second half.
Trailing Eastern Michigan 17-16 in the first half, the Bulldogs went on a 14-0 run to take the lead, then scored 60 points in the second half to seal the 94-55 rout.
Jahmyl Telford led Butler with 18 points. Five other players finished in double figures for the Bulldogs, who shot 57 percent from the field in the game.
"I liked the fact that we had to slug it out a bit in the first half. I wanted to see how we would react. In the second half, we were able to clean up our turnovers and rebound better," head coach Thad Matta said after the game. "That allowed us to get out and score in transition. There are a lot of areas that we can improve and I’m excited about that."
Butler returns to action Friday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse, facing Southeast Missouri State at 8:30 p.m.
Butler 94, E. Michigan 55
E. MICHIGAN (0-1)
Geeter 2-9 0-0 4, Serven 2-4 1-3 6, Acuff 5-16 2-2 13, Ellerbe 0-4 0-0 0, McGriff 3-9 0-0 8, Osojnik 4-8 2-2 13, Martynov 1-3 0-0 2, Billingsley 0-1 0-2 0, Jihad 2-5 4-6 9, Rice 0-0 0-0 0, Randle 0-0 0-0 0.
Totals: 19-59 9-15 55.
BUTLER (1-0)
Telfort 6-10 5-6 18, Thomas 1-2 0-0 2, Alexander 5-10 3-3 13, Brooks 7-12 0-0 16, Davis 5-10 2-2 13, Moore 0-3 2-2 2, Bizjack 1-4 0-1 2, Screen 6-6 1-2 13, Turnbull 5-6 1-1 13, Kapke 0-0 0-0 0, Gavalas 0-0 0-0 0, McComb 0-0 2-2 2, Mulloy 0-0 0-0 0.
Totals: 36-63 16-19 94.
Halftime: Butler 34-26.
3-Point Goals: E. Michigan 8-24 (Osojnik 3-6, McGriff 2-4, Jihad 1-1, Serven 1-1, Acuff 1-7, Geeter 0-2, Ellerbe 0-3), Butler 6-22 (Turnbull 2-3, Brooks 2-6, Telfort 1-2, Davis 1-5, Bizjack 0-1, Moore 0-2, Alexander 0-3).
Rebounds: E. Michigan 31 (Geeter 5), Butler 35 (Thomas 7).
Assists: E. Michigan 11 (Ellerbe 4), Butler 20 (Alexander 8).
Total Fouls: E. Michigan 20, Butler 14.
Attendance: 6,792 (9,100).