The previously fifth-ranked Butler Bulldogs lost at DePaul, 79-66, Saturday afternoon in an upset win for the Blue Demons who led for nearly the entire game.
It was an afternoon marred by turnovers and fouls for the Bulldogs and lights-out shooting for the Blue Demons. Paul Reed and Jalen Coleman-Lands both recorded 20 points, contributing to DePaul’s 49% shooting from the field and impressive 59% from three-point range. To add onto it, careless Butler fouls gave DePaul 32 free throw attempts, of which they made 25.
The Bulldogs were down at the half thanks in part to nine turnovers from ill-advised passes and sloppy offense. They went on to notch a total of 17 turnovers.
In the second half, DePaul took their largest lead, going up by 21 points. Butler never came close after that, shooting only 42% from the field and 33% from behind the arc. Kamar Baldwin led the team with 16 points, including a team-high six field goals on 16 attempts.
The loss dropped Butler’s record to 15-3 (3-2 Big East) and its ranking to 13th in the AP Top 25 Poll. DePaul moves to 13-5 (1-4 Big East) on the season.
The Big East continues to be highly competitive with three teams in the Top 25 (Seton Hall, Villanova and Butler) and Providence moving up to third in the conference.
The Bulldogs will travel to ninth-ranked Villanova on Tuesday night, looking to get back on track after two consecutive losses. The team comes back home to Hinkle Fieldhouse to face Marquette on Friday night.
