INDIANAPOLIS – Butler has usually been as at home in Bankers Life Fieldhouse as in Hinkle Fieldhouse. Not Saturday, though.
No. 17 Purdue built a 26-point and held off the Bulldogs’ late surge, scoring an 82-67 victory in the Crossroads Classic.
The Boilermakers (11-2) were as balanced as any team could be. Carsen Edwards scored 18 points, Vincent Edwards and Isaac Haas had 15 each, Dakota Mathias 14 and P.J. Thompson 12.
Kelan Martin had 17, Paul Jorgensen 15 and Kamar Baldwin 13 for Butler (8-3).
Purdue led 55-29 with 13 ½ minutes left. The Bulldogs came within nine, 69-60, on Jorgensen’s 3-pointer with 3:01 to play.