INDIANAPOLIS — Pierre Brooks scored 20 points to lead Butler to an 85-65 win over Western Michigan Monday night.
The Bulldogs led 39-37 at halftime, then opened the game up with a 16-2 run to start the second half. Western Michigan pulled to within three when Markhi Strickland hit a jumper with 11:19 remaining to cap off a 15-2 Broncos run.
Brooks made three 3-pointers down the stretch to help put away the victory.
Augusto Cassia scored 16 points for Butler, while Patrick McCaffery scored 15 and Finley Bizjack added 10 in the victory.
Donovan Williams scored 17 points to lead Western Michigan.
The Bulldogs are back in action Friday against SMU. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Box score
W. MICHIGAN (1-2)
Burton 0-3 0-0 0, Lobsinger 3-11 2-2 8, Hannah 6-13 2-2 15, Ryans 3-4 2-4 10, Strickland 3-15 0-0 7, Williams 4-15 9-9 17, Muntu 1-5 0-0 2, Josephs 1-2 0-0 2, Lewis 1-4 0-0 2, Sulaka 0-0 0-0 0, Stefanski 0-0 0-0 0, Thomas 0-0 0-0 0, Ward 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-74 15-17 63.
BUTLER (2-1)
Brooks 6-11 4-5 20, Cassia 4-8 8-10 16, McCaffery 5-8 3-3 15, Telfort 3-6 2-2 9, Bizjack 4-6 0-2 10, Moore 1-3 2-2 4, King 3-4 0-0 7, Screen 2-4 0-0 4, Kapke 0-0 0-0 0, Haywood 0-0 0-0 0, McComb 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-50 19-24 85.
Halftime: Butler 39-37.
3-Point Goals: W. Michigan 4-22 (Ryans 2-2, Strickland 1-2, Hannah 1-5, Lewis 0-1, Ward 0-1, Lobsinger 0-3, Muntu 0-4, Williams 0-4), Butler 10-21 (Brooks 4-5, Bizjack 2-2, McCaffery 2-5, King 1-2, Telfort 1-4, Cassia 0-1, Moore 0-2).
Rebounds: W. Michigan 33 (Williams 9), Butler 30 (Bizjack 9).
Assists: W. Michigan 7 (Strickland, Williams 2), Butler 21 (Brooks 6).
Total Fouls: W. Michigan 20, Butler 14.
Attendance: 6,855 (9,100).
