Kamar Baldwin's layup ignited a 9-0, game-opening run that gave host Butler a lead it never relinquished en route to an 90-68 romp over Miami-Ohio in a nonconference tilt Saturday night in Indianapolis.
Baldwin finished with 21 points and six assists, while Paul Jorgensen and Joey Brunk added 17 apiece for the Bulldogs (1-0), a 21-win team a year ago.
Nike Sibande went for a game-high 24 points for the RedHawks (0-1), who likewise were making their 2018-19 debut.
Baldwin had three points and Brunk four in the game-opening burst, which lasted 3 1/2 minutes. Sibande's 3-pointer with 16:18 left in the half provided Miami's first points.
Butler went on to lead 25-10 and then 45-33 at the half, and was never seriously threatened the rest of the way, using 60.3-percent shooting to keep Miami at arm's length.
Brunk had 15 of his 17 points in the first half, making all six of his shots. He finished 7-for-7 for the game.
Baldwin shot 9-for-14 for the field and found time for a game-high six assists for Butler, which was playing Miami for the first time since 2006.
Aaron Thompson added 11 points for the Bulldogs.
Sibande made a game-high four of his 12 3-point attempts for the RedHawks, who outscored Butler 36-24 from beyond the arc.
Dalonte Brown had 16 points and Darrian Ringo 10 for Miami, which shot just 39.7 percent from the field.
--Field Level Media
Miami (OH) | Butler | |
Nike Sibande 24 | Scoring | Kamar Baldwin 21 |
Darrian Ringo 3 | Assists | Kamar Baldwin 6 |
Jalen Adaway 4 | Rebounds | Nate Fowler 7 |
Dalonte Brown 2 | Free Throws Made | Henry Baddley 3 |
Dalonte Brown 3 | Steals | Nate Fowler 1 |
Precious Ayah 1 | Blocks | Joey Brunk 1 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Miami (OH) | 68 | 39.7 | 12-33 | 6-7 | 8 | 20 | 2 | 8 | 8 |
Butler | 90 | 60.3 | 8-21 | 12-17 | 18 | 35 | 2 | 2 | 11 |