Georgetown clamps down late, takes bite out of Butler

Field Level Media|published: Sat 31st January, 14:32 2026

Jan 31, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Butler Bulldogs forward Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor (4) dunks against the Georgetown Hoyas during the first half at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

Vincent Iwuchukwu and KJ Lewis scored 17 points each to pace Georgetown to a 77-64 Big East victory over Butler on Saturday at Indianapolis.

Malik Mack added 14 points and six assists as the Hoyas (12-10, 4-7) denied Butler coach Thad Matta his 500th career win.

The Hoyas, who took the lead midway through the first half and held it the rest of the way, made 54.9% of their shots from the floor, including 10 of 20 (50%) from 3-point range.

Caleb Williams (eight points) and Kayvaun Mulready (seven) each made their two 3-point attempts for Georgetown.

Jamie Kaiser Jr. scored 19 points and Finley Bizjack added 16 points as Butler (13-9, 4-7) lost its second straight.

The Bulldogs missed their final 14 shots of the game and finished with a 33.3% mark from the floor, including 6 of 21 (28.6%) from 3-point range.

Georgetown held Michael Ajayi to six points and six rebounds, his low this season in both categories. It was the first game this year that Ajayi didn't lead Butler in rebounds. Drayton Jones had eight rebounds for Butler.

In the first 10 minutes, there were four ties and seven lead changes, the last coming when Mulready hit a corner 3-pointer to ignite a 16-3 Georgetown spurt.

The run included 3-pointers by Mack, Lewis and Williams as the Hoyas took their biggest lead of the half at 34-23.

In the final 6:14 of the half, Bizjack answered with a pair of triples and a reverse layup, Kaiser added two buckets and Butler cut the deficit to 43-39 at the break.

Early in the second half, during a dry spell when the Bulldogs missed six straight shots, the Hoyas reeled off eight straight points with half coming from Iwuchukwu as the Hoyas went up 55-46.

When Kaiser made a 3-pointer and Bizjack followed with two free throws with 6:54 left, it cut Georgetown's lead to 63-59, but that's as close as Butler would come.

Down the stretch, Mack and Lewis made 3-pointers as the Hoyas remained in control.

The 7-foot-1 Iwuchukwu was in the Georgetown starting lineup as a replacement for 7-footer Julius Halaifonua, who was sidelined with a back injury.

--Field Level Media

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