Butler takes down Georgetown in Big East opener

Field Level Media|published: Tue 19th December, 20:51 2023

Butler Bulldogs guard Pierre Brooks II (21) runs up the court after shooting a free throw Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. credits: Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Posh Alexander and Pierre Brooks II each scored 13 points and Butler rode a late first-half surge to pull away from Georgetown en route to a 74-64 win on Tuesday in Indianapolis to open Big East play for both teams.

Alexander added seven assists and five steals for the Bulldogs (10-2, 1-0 Big East), who overpowered the Hoyas 46-22 in the paint and outrebounded Georgetown 37-29.

Jahmyl Telfort chipped in 12 points and five boards as all eight players who checked in for Butler scored at least three points.

DJ Davis posted 12 points before he injured his lower right leg when he backpedaled into a referee along the baseline. Davis left the game with the Bulldogs leading 46-36 at the 16:27 mark and didn't return.

Dontrez Styles tallied 19 points before fouling out with 1:38 to play, while Supreme Cook bundled 10 points with his team-high seven rebounds for the Hoyas (7-5, 0-1 Big East).

Jayden Epps supplied 12 points off the bench after missing Georgetown's last two games (illness).

Epps scored six straight points to bring Georgetown within two points at 27-25 with 3:22 until halftime. Butler then rattled off 13 straight points to seize control.

Telfort and Brooks sparked the Bulldogs' run with fastbreak scores before Davis drilled a transition 3-pointer that pushed Butler's advantage to 34-25. Jalen Thomas sandwiched a pair of jumpers around Alexander's layup to give the Bulldogs their largest lead of the half at 40-25 with 31 seconds to go.

Butler outscored Georgetown 10-0 on the fastbreak in the first half and led 40-27 at halftime.

After missing eight of nine 3-pointers in the opening period, the Hoyas warmed up from behind the arc in the second half to whittle their deficit to single digits.

Styles' third triple of the half cut it to 60-52 with seven minutes to play, but Landon Moore answered with a trey on the Bulldogs' ensuing possession to trigger a 7-0 run that essentially put the game out of reach.

Butler maintained a double-digit lead for the game's final 6 1/2 minutes to improve to 8-0 at home this season.

—Field Level Media