Mon Jan 7 22:36:30 2008

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Butler takes care of Loyola-Chicago, wins sixth straight

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Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Matt Howard totaled a game-high 19 points and added five rebounds as the 14th-ranked Butler Bulldogs beat up Loyola-Chicago, 66-55, at the Joseph J. Gentile Center.

Mike Green added 15 points, five rebounds and six assists for the Bulldogs (14-1, 3-1 Horizon League), who have won six straight.

J.R. Blount had 16 points, while Andy Polka added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Ramblers (5-10, 1-4), who have dropped three straight.

The Bulldogs started the game with a 14-2 run, which included six points from Howard, a pair of three-pointers from A.J. Graves and an Avery Jukes jumper to cap the run, a bit over five minutes in.

Later in the half, the Ramblers used a 7-0 run and trailed, 19-15, on a Tracy Robinson jumper with a bit over seven minutes left.

Butler, though, scored the next five points and eventually took a 29-21 lead into the locker room.

A 9-0 run from Loyola early in the second half got the team to within three points, 35-32, on a three-pointer from Robinson a bit over five minutes in.

It stayed close for the next couple of minutes, but Butler, holding a 43-39 lead, took control of the game as Julian Betko's three-pointer with 9:21 to play keyed an 11-1 run and the Bulldogs had a 54-40 lead on Zach Hahn's trey with 6:24 to play.

The Ramblers were unable to cut into the deficit as the Bulldogs hung on for the win.

Game Notes

Butler hosts Wisconsin-Green Bay on Thursday...Butler leads the all-time series, 44-29, and has won 17 of the last 21...Graves finished the game with seven points...Butler shot 45.8 percent while Loyola hit 42.6 percent of its shots...Justin Cerasoli had 12 points and seven rebounds, but turned the ball over six times for Loyola.