Asim Djulovic poured in 25 points on 10-of-12 shooting, Jalen Jackson and Eduardo Klafke tacked on 16 points apiece and Butler bombed in a program record-tying 20 3-pointers to defeat FDU 99-65 on Wednesday in Indianapolis.
Butler (2-0) followed a 16-of-44 effort from distance in its season-opening win over Lafayette by going 20 for 43 from beyond the arc on Wednesday.
Djulovic, Jackson and Klafke each contributed four of the 3-pointers. Samu Adler made the Bulldogs’ 20th of the night with 1:29 left to play.
The Bulldogs also totaled 31 assists on 36 made baskets. Jackson’s eight assists were a career high, Klafke had seven assists and Adler tallied six. Treyson Anderson added 13 points.
Pavle Stosic led FDU (0-2) with 19 points and six assists. JR Jacobs, Raysean Johnson and David Jevtic added 11 points apiece.
Like the Bulldogs, the Knights played for the second time in three days to start the season. They still fared better than in their 120-45 loss Monday to No. 3 Illinois.
The Bulldogs connected on their first four shots of the game, which included 3-pointers by Anderson, Klafke and Djulovic. Klafke went 3-for-3 from the arc to begin his night, and when Jackson added consecutive triples, the Bulldogs had their first double-digit lead at 23-12 at the 12:33 mark of the half.
Klafke made a nice pass out of a double-team across the baseline to Djulovic, who then drove for the bucket and foul. Klafke got another bucket of his own on Butler’s next possession for a 37-23 advantage with five minutes left in the half.
Stosic supplied FDU’s final six points of the half, but Djulovic buried one more 3-pointer on Butler’s final possession to establish a 52-29 gulf.
JR Jacobs had a fastbreak layup and a triple shortly after halftime as FDU pulled back within 18. But Drayton Jones’ block sent the Bulldogs on the break, and Anderson threw down a baseline jam to restore a 23-point lead.
Jordan Ellerbee got in on the action with a pair of threes that turned a 70-50 game into a 26-point margin with 10:16 to go. Butler’s lead was in the 30s for the final 7:14 of game time.
–Field Level Media
