FINAL: Butler defeats Purdue, 76-70, in Crossroads Classic
By Evan Reller
Dec 14, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers center A.J. Hammons (20) and guard Ronnie Johnson (3) double team Butler Bulldogs guard Kellen Dunham (24) during the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Butler defeats Purdue 76-70. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
The Butler Bulldogs defeated the Purdue Boilermakers Saturday evening in the third annual Crossroads Classic. The 76-70 win marked the Bulldogs third consecutive win in the event.
Butler (8-2) was able to capitalize on the Boilers mistakes and frustration down the stretch, a trait the Bulldogs have come to be known for over the past few years.
Sophomore Kellen Dunham led all scorers with 25 points. The Butler sharpshooter was 8-for-16 from the field and chipped in four rebounds, an assist, steal, and block.
Purdue (8-3) was led by senior Terone Johnson, who had 20 points. He also had six rebounds and four assists. Unfortunately, he also led the team in turnovers with six.
Boilermaker center AJ Hammons came off the bench to give Purdue 10 points, three rebounds, and three blocks. His lack of discipline got the better of him late in the game, and he fouled out.
Freshman Bryson Scott gave Purdue big minutes with 13 points off 5-for-8 shooting.
Seniors Khyle Marshall and Erik Fromm continued to come through for the Bulldogs. Marshall nearly had a double-double. He scored 18 points off 8-for-14 shooting and snagged nine rebounds.
Fromm gave the Bulldogs 14 points and was big defensively with four blocks.
Butler was dominant all day on the defensive end. Purdue managed to shoot 44-percent from the field, but was just 4-for-14 from the three-point line. The Boilermakers turned the ball over 18 times and Butler recorded 11 steals and nine blocks.
The Bulldogs were also much more efficient at getting to the free throw line, notching 30 attempts from the charity stripe, to Purdue’s 15. Discipline continues to be an issue for the Boilers with two players fouling out and the team committing 26 personal fouls.
Up next for the Bulldogs is a trip to southern Indiana to face Evansville on December 21st.
Purdue will host Maryland-Eastern on December 17th.
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