Northern Illinois discovered how well Butler's Paul Jorgensen's long-range shooting can impact a game on Saturday in Indianapolis.
Jorgensen entered the nonconference game averaging 17.4 points per game, shooting 42.1 percent on 7.1 3-point attempts per game. The 6-foot-2 senior guard added to his impressive start, hitting 4 of 8 3-pointers to finish with 16 points in a 95-68 blowout of the Huskies.
Jorgensen shot 6 for 11 from the field and added three rebounds and three assists.
Junior forward Sean McDermott, though, managed to top Jorgensen's effort. McDermott made seven of his 12 3-pointers en route to a game-high 23 points. Sophomore Joey Brunk added 15 points off the bench, and Kamar Baldwin finished with 13 points, seven boards and four assists for the Bulldogs (7-2).
Butler shot a sizzling 53.1 percent (17 for 32) from deep, and 60.7 from the field (34 for 56).
Junior guard Eugene German paced the Huskies (5-4) with 20 points and eight rebounds. German also canned four treys and picked up and three assists, while senior forward Levi Bradley added 14 points.
After the Huskies led 5-4 following a basket by Rod Henry-Hayes, the Bulldogs went on a 9-0 run, which was highlighted by two threes by McDermott for a 14-4 lead with 15:52 left before halftime.
Christian David's layup raised the Bulldogs' lead to 25-10 with 12:16 remaining until the break. Jorgensen buried another three with one second left to give Butler a 51-28 lead at halftime.
The Bulldogs' lead stretched to 57-36 after another McDermott three with 16:30 left in the game. Henry Baddley hit two threes in a 35-second span to lift Butler's lead to 66-45 with 13:26 left.
--Field Level Media
Northern Illinois | Butler | |
Eugene German 20 | Scoring | Sean McDermott 23 |
Eugene German 3 | Assists | Aaron Thompson 9 |
Eugene German 8 | Rebounds | Kamar Baldwin 7 |
Levi Bradley 6 | Free Throws Made | Kamar Baldwin 3 |
Eugene German 2 | Steals | Kamar Baldwin 1 |
Noah McCarty 1 | Blocks | N/A |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Northern Illinois | 68 | 50.0 | 5-14 | 17-26 | 8 | 25 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
Butler | 95 | 60.7 | 17-32 | 10-10 | 27 | 29 | 0 | 3 | 7 |