INDIANAPOLIS — Posh Alexander scored 21 points, Pierre Brooks II had 20 and Jahmyl Telfort 18 to lead Butler to a 97-90 double-overtime victory over California on Saturday for the Bulldogs' fifth straight win.
Telfort scored 11 of his points and Brooks seven over the two overtimes with the duo connecting for consecutive 3-pointers in the second extra period for an eight-point lead.
Fardaws Aimaq had 24 points and 16 rebounds for the Golden Bears (3-6). Jalen Cone made 7 of 17 3-point attempts and finished with 23 points. Keonte Kennedy added 20 points and Jaylon Tyson had 16 points and seven assists. Cal made 14 of 34 3-point tries.
DJ Davis added 14 points for the Bulldogs (8-2) who have won 14 straight nonconference home games. Butler was 8 of 19 from the arc and shot 52% overall.
Telfort scored six straight points to give Butler a four-point lead in the first overtime. Cone hit consecutive 3-pointers and Telfort scored again to tie the game before Tyson missed on a layup and the game went to a second OT.
Brooks hit a 3-pointer to snap a tie and begin a 15-4 run for an 11-point lead with seven minutes left in regulation. The Bulldogs kept the lead until the final seconds when Cone missed a 3-pointer but made good on a second chance from the arc off a rebound and assist by Aimaq to send the game into overtime.
Cal led by as many as 12 in the first half before going into the break ahead 37-34.
Cal plays Mississippi in San Antonio next Saturday. Butler is host to Saginaw Valley State, also next Saturday.
Butler 97, California 90, 2OT
CALIFORNIA (3-6) — Aimaq 9-22 4-5 24, Newell 1-2 0-0 2, Cone 8-20 0-0 23, Kennedy 9-14 0-0 20, Tyson 6-13 2-2 16, Brown 2-2 0-0 5, Celestine 0-1 0-0 0, Larson 0-1 0-0 0, Okafor 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 35-76 6-7 90.
BUTLER (8-2) — Telfort 8-18 2-2 20, Thomas 2-5 0-0 4, Alexander 9-16 3-4 21, Davis 4-7 2-3 13, Brooks 8-15 0-1 18, Screen 4-8 1-1 9, Bizjack 3-4 1-1 8, Moore 1-2 2-2 4. Totals: 39-75 11-14 97.
Halftime—California 37-34. 3-Point Goals—California 14-34 (Cone 7-17, Aimaq 2-3, Tyson 2-5, Kennedy 2-6, Brown 1-1, Celestine 0-1, Newell 0-1), Butler 8-19 (Davis 3-5, Telfort 2-4, Brooks 2-5, Bizjack 1-2, Thomas 0-1, Alexander 0-2). Fouled Out—Newell. Rebounds—California 33 (Aimaq 16), Butler 33 (Brooks 7). Assists—California 18 (Tyson 7), Butler 18 (Alexander 6). Total Fouls—California 18, Butler 11. A—8,034 (9,100).
