Saturday, February 21
Davidson, N.C.
12:00 p.m.
Davidson College
63
vs
75
No. 21/22 Butler
Photo by: Sideline Sports
No. 21 Butler Tops Davidson 75-63
2/21/2009 3:33:45 PM | Men's Basketball
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Gordon Hayward scored a career-high 27 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead No. 21/22 Butler to a 75-63 victory in an ESPNU BracketBusters matchup Saturday afternoon at a sold-out John M. Belk Arena.
Stephen Curry, who missed Davidson's last game because of a sprained left ankle, returned to action for the Wildcats (22-6) and posted 20 points, six assists and five rebounds in 37 minutes of action. Andrew Lovedale recorded 15 points and seven rebounds and shot 6-for-6 from the floor, and Will Archambault collected 11 points and five rebounds.
Hayward was 6-for-12 from the floor, 4-of-7 from 3-point range and 11-for-12 from the charity stripe. Matt Howard recorded 12 points and five rebounds for the Bulldogs (23-4), and Willie Veasley collected 10 points and seven rebounds.
Butler took a 9-7 lead on a Garrett Butcher layup 7:06 into the game and never trailed again, and every time the Wildcats tried to mount a run, the Bulldogs had an answer.
With Davidson trailing by five points at the break, Curry opened the second half by coming off a screen and nailing a 3-pointer, but Hayward answered with a trey on the other end, sparking an 18-7 Butler run. Shelvin Mack capped the stretch with a 3-pointer that banked off the glass and in as the shot clock horn sounded, making the lead 52-39.
Davidson got the margin down to 11 midway through the frame, but a Shawn Vanzant 3-pointer ignited a mini 7-2 spurt the stretched the advantage back to 16 points. Davidson was never able to make a run to get within single digits of the Bulldogs.
Both teams played tough defense, with each holding the other under 40 percent shooting from the floor. The Bulldogs won the turnover battle by three and shot 20-of-24 from the free-throw line compared to 13-19 for the 'Cats. Butler also held a 36-31 edge in rebounding.
The Wildcats return to action in a 7 p.m. contest against SoCon opponent UNC Greensboro Wednesday in Belk Arena. That contest starts a three-game league stretch which caps the regular season for the Wildcats.
Game Notes: Davidson got 500 pairs of new shoes donated from fans as part of its Kicks from 'Cats promotion, a shoe drive for youngsters in Lovedale's native Nigeria… It was the ninth straight sellout crowd at Belk Arena and the 10th in the last 12 games, dating back to last season… Curry is now 50 points away from the Davidson career scoring record, held by John Gerdy.
Davidson Men's Basketball - Bay Area Mini Camp with Stephen Curry
Wednesday, July 23
The Inside Out Show -- Episode 9
Friday, March 28
The Inside Out Show -- Episode 8
Thursday, February 20
The Inside Out Show - Episode 7
Friday, January 31