INDIANAPOLIS — LJ Thomas scored 29 points and secured the victory with a layup with 46 seconds remaining as Austin Peay knocked off Butler 68-66 on Friday night.
Thomas added eight rebounds for the Governors (2-0). Sai Witt scored nine points while going 4 of 7 and 1 of 4 from the free throw line. Quan Lax had nine points and shot 3 of 8 from the field, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 2 for 3 from the line.
The Bulldogs (1-1) were led by Patrick McCaffery, who recorded 23 points and eight rebounds. Butler also got 13 points and seven rebounds from Pierre Brooks. Finley Bizjack also had 10 points, six assists and two steals.
Thomas scored a team-high 12 points for Austin Peay in the second half, including their game-winner.
Box score
AUSTIN PEAY (2-0)
Witt 4-7 1-4 9, Enmanuel 1-1 0-0 2, Haney 0-3 2-2 2, Lax 3-8 2-3 9, Thomas 13-27 2-2 29, Carpenter 2-4 0-0 6, Brookshire 1-4 1-2 3, Daniel 3-6 0-0 6, Dawson 1-2 0-0 2, Loos 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-62 8-14 68
BUTLER (1-1)
Brooks 5-15 2-2 13, McCaffery 8-13 2-2 23, Telfort 2-5 4-4 8, Screen 0-0 0-0 0, Bizjack 3-10 4-6 10, Cassia 1-1 2-2 4, King 1-1 2-2 5, Kapke 1-2 1-1 3, Moore 0-1 0-0 0, Haywood 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-49 17-19 66
Halftime: Austin Peay 39-34
3-point goals: Austin Peay 4-17 (Carpenter 2-4, Lax 1-3, Thomas 1-4, Daniel 0-1, Dawson 0-1, Brookshire 0-2, Haney 0-2), Butler 7-25 (McCaffery 5-8, King 1-1, Brooks 1-7, Haywood 0-1, Kapke 0-1, Moore 0-1, Telfort 0-2, Bizjack 0-4)
Fouled Out: Lax
Rebounds: Austin Peay 28 (Thomas 8), Butler 32 (McCaffery 8)
Assists: Austin Peay 8 (Thomas 3), Butler 12 (Bizjack 6)
Total fouls: Austin Peay 18, Butler 14
Attendance: 7,193 (9,100)