Butler defeats Northwestern 61-58

Northwestern Falls Just Short in Thrilling Matchup at Butler

In a back-and-forth battle, the Butler Bulldogs edged out the visiting Northwestern Wildcats 61-58 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday night.

The home team's dominant performance was led by Michael Ajayi, who poured in 19 points and grabbed 20 rebounds, both game-high totals. Ajayi's double-double was a key factor in securing the narrow victory for Butler.

Despite trailing at halftime, Northwestern made a valiant effort to come back behind Jayden Reid, who scored 14 points but struggled with his shot, hitting just one of four three-point attempts. Reid also led the Wildcats in assists with six.

Northwestern's Max Green was the team's second-leading scorer with seven points and six rebounds. However, neither team could shake off Butler's early lead, which grew as large as 11 points at one point before Northwestern cut it down to three with just over a minute remaining.

The game's ebb and flow was mirrored in the shot charts, with both teams struggling from beyond the arc but finding success inside the paint. The Bulldogs' 28 points in the paint compared favorably to the Wildcats' 30, as Butler's strong rebounding effort helped fuel their lead.

In the end, Northwestern fell just short, as Butler's defense held up and managed to secure the win.