INDIANAPOLIS – If the aim was to be tested before the real season starts, Butler got one Saturday night.
Kelan Martin scored 19 points and Kamar Baldwin 17 and the Bulldogs survived a late scare to beat Lincoln Memorial 86-79 in their final basketball exhibition at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
The Railsplitters cut what had been a 13-point lead to 74-70 with 4:12 left. Emanuel Terry scored 24 and Dorian Pinson, a preseason Division II All-American, added 17.
Butler shot 56 percent from the field to Lincoln Memorial’s 52 percent.
Three takeaways:
Dawgs as ready as they can be
Beginning Friday against Kennesaw State, the Bulldogs play seven games in the first 17 days of LaVall Jordan’s first season as coach.