Spokesman-Review
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Butler 68, DePaul 58
When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 6, 2021
Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Officials: # Earl Walton, # Tony Chiazza, # Evon Burroughs
Attendance: N/A

Chuck Harris and Bryce Nze each scored 22 points as Butler snapped a three-game skid with a 68-58 victory against visiting DePaul on Saturday in Indianapolis.

It was the first game this season with two 20-point scorers for Butler (6-10, 5-8 Big East). Harris (4 of 8) and Nze (3 of 4) combined for seven of the Bulldogs' eight 3-point baskets.

Javon Freeman-Liberty scored a season-high 26 points for DePaul (3-8, 1-8), which lost its third straight game. No other Blue Demons had more than eight points.

Freeman-Liberty's two free throws gave DePaul its largest first-half advantage at 18-6. But Butler closed the half on a 24-11 run to take a 30-29 lead at the break.

Harris -- a freshman who entered Saturday averaging 10.3 points per game -- led all scorers with 15 at intermission. Freeman-Liberty also eclipsed his season scoring average (12.8) with 14 at halftime.

Aaron Thompson's free throw with 11:59 left in the game capped a 12-1 run and gave the Bulldogs their largest lead at 49-39. Nze's 3-pointer with 7:32 left matched that lead at 55-45.

Butler hit a season-high 24 free throws in 36 attempts. DePaul was just 9 for 16 from the foul line.

The Bulldogs swept the season series with Saturday's win. Butler won the first meeting in Chicago, 67-53, on Jan. 19.

DePaul (69.1 points per game) and Butler (62.7) entered Saturday as the two lowest-scoring teams in the Big East.

This was DePaul's fourth road game this season. The Blue Demons, who have had eight COVID-19 cancellations or postponements, have played the fewest games in the Big East.

Butler's Hinkle Fieldhouse was at 25 percent capacity, with a crowd of roughly 2,000 fans.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
DePaul   Butler
Javon Freeman-Liberty 26 Scoring Chuck Harris 22
Ray Salnave 4 Assists Aaron Thompson 5
Javon Freeman-Liberty 8 Rebounds Bo Hodges 10
Javon Freeman-Liberty 5 Free Throws Made Chuck Harris 8
Javon Freeman-Liberty 4 Steals Aaron Thompson 3
Nick Ongenda 2 Blocks Bo Hodges 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
DePaul 58 39.3 5-14 9-16 12 26 3 7 13
Butler 68 43.9 8-20 24-36 12 24 5 5 12