Butler Advances to the Sweet-16 -- Saturday, March 17 2007
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- Butler can shed the mid-major label. A.J. Graves and company proved the Bulldogs can play with anyone -- including Maryland.

Graves scored 19 points, including a clutch 3-point basket with 2:09 remaining to lift the Bulldogs to a 62-59 win over Maryland in the second round of the NCAA tournament Saturday.

Butler (29-6), the No. 5 seed in the Midwest Regional, advances to the round of 16 for the second time in school history. The Bulldogs did it previously in their last tournament appearance in 2003.

Maryland (25-9), making its first tournament appearance since 2004, has not advanced past the second round since 2003. The Terps were undone by an aggressive and smaller team, which kept their offense out of rhythm.

Brandon Crone scored with three minutes left to put the Bulldogs ahead 58-56. Then, after Maryland's Ekene Ibekwe missed a 6-footer, Graves hit a 3-pointer from the left corner to all but seal the victory.

In the final half-minute, with his team trailing by two, Maryland coach Gary Williams decided to let Butler run down the clock. Butler missed in the final seconds but got the rebound, forcing the Terrapins to foul.

A free throw made it a three-point deficit, and Maryland ran out of time before it could get off a final shot.

Mike Jones scored 21 for the Terps, but the team couldn't make up for D.J. Strawberry's tough night. The senior managed eight points.

The game ended when Jones was unable to control Eric Hayes' inbounds just before the buzzer sounded.

It was an exciting finish to a game that featured seven lead changes and was tied three times in the second half.

Butler, coming off a 57-46 win over Old Dominion in the first round on Thursday, picked the right time to win two consecutive games for the first time in more than a month. The Bulldogs entered the game 5-4 in their past nine.

Crone scored 13 points for Butler while Green added eight points and eight rebounds.

James Gist had 13 points and eight rebounds for Maryland, which capped an up-and-down season with a tough loss.

Maryland lost the opening game of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament to Miami and also endured a difficult midseason stretch in which it went 3-5 against league rivals.

The Bulldogs, by comparison, add Maryland to a high-profile list of teams they've beaten this season -- a group including Notre Dame, Indiana and Purdue.

Butler squandered an 11-point lead early in the first half but never trailed after going up 39-36 lead on Drew Streicher's 3-point basket five minutes into the second half.

The Terps were particularly stymied in the first half, going 6:29 without scoring a field goal before Gist hit a reverse layup with 1:13 remaining. Maryland missed three attempts, committed four turnovers and hit 1-of-4 free throws during its drought.

The Bulldogs slowed the pace, and got back quickly after their missed shots, making it very difficult for the Terps' to be effective in transition. Butler was also tenacious in collapsing inside, preventing Maryland's big men from putting the ball on the floor in the paint.

Maryland committed 17 turnovers, including five by Strawberry.

Closser Earns Second Scholar Athlete Recognition -- Wednesday, March 14 2007
Indianapolis, Ind. - After guiding the Bulldogs to their first appearance in the Horizon League Championship game in nine years while maintaining excellence in the classroom, senior guard Jackie Closser has been named the league's Female Scholar Athlete of the Week. The league office made the announcement on Tuesday (March 13).

Closser was deadly from the field and from the free throw line during the Bulldogs run to the league championship game, scoring 15 points with four three pointers against Youngstown State to help Butler to the league semifinals against UIC. She followed up that performance with a game-high 25 points against the Flames, including 11 in overtime and 12-of-12 from the free throw line, to lead the Bulldogs to their first title game appearance since 1998.

In the final game at UW-Green Bay, she tied the Horizon League Tournament record with seven three-pointers while leading all scorers with 23 points.

Her dominance on the floor throughout the season helped her to be named to the All-Horizon League First Team for the second time in two years, while her output in the league championship landed her on the All-Tournament Squad. She finished the year with a streak of 59-consecutive games with a three-pointer, just one shy of the NCAA Division I record of 60.

A two-time winner of the Scholar Athlete Award and a CoSIDA Academic All-District V Team member, Closser touts a 3.616 grade point average as an elementary education major.

Bulldogs Rout Huntington, 18-0 -- Wednesday, March 14 2007
Indianapolis, Ind. - A six-run first inning was more than enough for the Bulldogs against NAIA foe Huntington, as five Butler pitchers combined for the team's first shut-out of the season while the offense collected 15 hits and 11 walks in an 18-0 upending of the Foresters on Tuesday (March 13) at Bulldog Park.

The Bulldogs got the only run they would need in the first on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Jason Jamerson. Butler picked up another run on an infield single by Matt Ferguson before Rick Betsch worked a bases-full walk to plate the third run of the inning.

A double to left by Brandon Tormoehlen a batter later cleared the bases for three RBI and a quick 6-0 Butler lead.

Butler would continue to pour the offense on, taking advantage of wildness by the Huntington pitching staff while collecting 15 hits in plating two runs in the second, one in both the third and fifth before erupting for six more in the sixth.

Meanwhile, the Bulldog pitching staff countered with a masterful performance, holding Huntington to just seven hits while walking none. Starting pitcher Ryan Kruszka picked up his first win of the year, scattering four Forester hits over 4.0 innings. Tyler Tepe followed with two shut-out frames, while Jamie Feldheiser, Evan DePotter and Jon Dages added scoreless innings of relief.

Five Butler players finished with two hits in the game, with Joel Matheny, Betsch and Tormoehlen each plating three runs.

Butler returns to action this weekend when it hosts the reigning Horizon League Tournament Champion Wright State beginning with a single game on Friday (March 16) at 3:00 p.m.

Butler To Face Old Dominion In NCAA Tournament -- Wednesday, March 14 2007
Butler has earned a bid to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship for the first time since 2003 and for the seventh time overall. The Bulldogs (27-6) are seeded fifth in the Midwest Region and will square off against No. 12 seed Old Dominion (24-8) at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y, on Thursday, March 15. The game will be the second contest of the first session, starting at approximately 2:50 p.m. (EDT).

Butler earned an invitation to the 2007 NCAA Tournament as an at-large selection, the second consecutive time that the Bulldogs have reached the national meet as an at-large team and the third time overall. The Bulldogs, who tied the school single season record for wins with 27, were regular season co-champs of the Horizon League and champions of the 2006 NIT Season Tip-Off. Butler was ranked in the "Top 20" of both the Associated Press and the ESPN/USA Today national polls for a school-record 15 consecutive weeks (prior to this week).

Old Dominion, runner-up in the Colonial Athletic Association, won 12 consecutive games before falling to George Mason in the CAA Tournament semifinals.

Butler reached the "Sweet 16" in its last NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003. The Bulldogs' No. 5 seed this year is the highest in school history.

Wright St. 60, No. 19 Butler 55 -- Wednesday, March 7 2007
FAIRBORN, Ohio (AP) -- DaShaun Wood was shocked when new Wright State coach Brad Brownell stood before his team for the first time and said the Raiders were going to the NCAA tournament.

Eleven months later, Wood helped make that wild prediction come true.

Wood scored 27 points and Will Graham hit four free throws in the last 12 seconds to lead the Raiders past No. 19 Butler 60-55 Tuesday night for the Horizon League postseason title and its second trip to the NCAA tournament.

"Coach came in from day one and said we could make it," Wood said while receiving high-fives and hugs on the crowded floor after the game. "All I know is we did make it. And nobody else thought it could be done."

Butler still looks like a solid bet to receive an at-large bid to its seventh trip to the NCAA tournament.

The Bulldogs have lost six of their last seven games at Wright State's Nutter Center -- ending a five-game skid with Saturday night's 67-66 overtime win over Loyola of Chicago.

"This was not neutral," Butler coach Todd Lickliter said. "Our guys maintained their poise for most of the time, but you have to do it all the time to win."

Wood helped turn the tide after Butler (27-6) had scrambled back from an eight-point deficit to take the lead in the final minutes.

With the score tied at 52-52 and 1:25 left, Butler's A.J. Graves drove to the basket but Wood blocked the shot from behind. Then at the other end, Wood curled off a pick and hit a 3-pointer from the right wing with 1:06 left for a 55-52 lead for Wright State (23-9).

"It's all so hard to believe," Wood said. "We fought for 40 minutes. We knew we would have to do that to win."

Brandon Crone, who led the Bulldogs with 18 points, scored inside off the inbounds pass to cut the lead to a point as hundreds of Wright State students crammed around the floor in expectation of a celebration.

The teams each hit a foul shot, before Graham was fouled with 11.6 seconds left. A 66-percent free-throw shooter, he made them both for a 58-55 lead.

"DaShaun came up to me before the first set and said, 'Hey, you've got two shots. You only have to make one.' He was trying to loosen me up. That took some of the weight off my shoulders," Graham said.

Graves, who had 12 points, then rushed the ball up the court but missed a 3-pointer while trying to draw a foul with 4.5 seconds left.

"I was just trying to push the ball up and see what the best shot was that we could get," he said. "I knew we needed a 3 and I knew we didn't have any timeouts left."

Graham again was fouled with 1.3 seconds left and poured in two more to clinch the win, touching off a wild rush to the floor by the students.

The Raiders got off to an abysmal start against the team they shared the regular-season title with but ended up winning for the 11th time in their last 12 games.

Two fans dressed like the Wright Brothers -- Fairborn is a suburb of Dayton, where the Wrights had their bicycle shop -- held up a sign that said, "Win One for Orville and Wilbur!"

Even though they were regular-season co-champs, Wright State won the top seed -- and the right to host the tournament -- by virtue of a tiebreaker. The teams split two earlier meetings.

"Our kids believed all along that we could win this game and that we were going to play well," said Brownell, who took North Carolina-Wilmington to the NCAAs last year for the second time in his four years as a head coach. "We just didn't know what it was going to come down to. In every huddle we told them to relax, stay calm, play the next play."

Burleson scored 15 points and Wilson had 10 for Wright State, which has won a national championship in basketball -- the 1983 Division II crown.

The Raiders' only previous trip to the NCAA tournament in their 20 years in Division I came in 1993, when they were pounded 97-54 by Indiana in the first round after capturing the Mid-Continent Conference tournament title.

The next NCAA challenge is an afterthought.

"We're not worried about the NCAAs for at least another 48 hours," Brownell said. "We're going to enjoy this with our fans."

Bulldogs Face Wright State For Horizon League Championship -- Tuesday, March 6 2007
TITLE GAME: Butler will be looking for its fifth Horizon League Tournament championship when it faces top-seeded Wright State in the league tournament title game on Tuesday, March 6, in Dayton, Ohio. The Bulldogs (27-5), seeded second in the tournament, will square off against the host squad in the Ervin J. Nutter Center at 9 p.m. (EDT). The game will be televised to a national audience on ESPN. Butler advanced to its ninth Horizon League tournament championship contest with a 67-66 victory in overtime over #3 seed Loyola in the semifinals. Wright State (22-9) dispatched UW-Green Bay, 67-51, in the other semifinal contest. Butler and Wright State shared the league regular season title, and the two teams split their two regular season meetings with each squad winning on its homecourt. The two foes are meeting in the Horizon League Tournament championship game for the first time. Butler owns a league-high four tournament crowns, while Wright State is seeking its first Horizon League Tournament championship.

Butler's last Horizon League Tournament championship came in 2001 at the Ervin J. Nutter Center.

POLL WATCH: Despite winning its only game last week, Butler slipped slightly in both the Associated Press and the ESPN/USA Today national college basketball polls released on Monday (Mar. 5). The Bulldogs fell from No. 16 to No. 17 in the ESPN/USA Today poll and from No. 18 to No. 19 in the A. P. poll. Butler has been ranked in the "Top 20" of the two polls for a school- and league-record 15 straight weeks, including a stint in the "Top 10" in both polls during the week of Feb. 5!

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RATINGS GAME: The Bulldogs, who held the No. 1 spot in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) for more than three weeks in November and December, currently sit in 30th place in the computer ranking (as of Mar. 5). Butler was in the "Top 10" of the RPI for nine straight weeks. The Bulldogs are 14th in the Sagarin ratings.

ADVANCE NOTICE: Butler snapped a five-game losing skid in the Nutter Center and advanced to the Horizon League championship game with its overtime victory against Loyola. The Bulldogs, who overcame a five-point deficit in the second half, took the lead for good in overtime, 63-61, on a pair of free throws by A. J. Graves with 0:51 left. Butler's final 10 points came from the free throw line, including the final six by Graves who hit 12 of 12 in the contest.

BEST MARK: The Bulldogs (27-5) have matched the best 32-game record in Butler basketball history. Butler's 2002-03 teams also posted a 27-5 mark under head coach Todd Lickliter. The Bulldogs became the first team in Butler and Horizon League history to record 26 wins in the regular season this year.

Butler is one win shy of the Horizon League season record for victories held by Xavier (1989-90).

COACH OF THE YEAR: For the second consecutive year, Butler head coach Todd Lickliter was named Horizon League Coach of the Year. The Butler coach was tabbed for the league honor a year ago, after leading the Bulldogs to an 18-11 regular season record and a league runner-up finish. This season, he guided a team that was picked sixth in the league's preseason poll to a league-record 26 wins and a regular season conference co-championship! Lickliter is the third Butler coach to earn Horizon League Coach of the Year honors, and he served as an assistant coach under the previous two. Current Butler Director of Athletics Barry Collier was a four-time league Coach of the Year, while current Ohio State head coach Thad Matta earned the league honor in 2000-01.

Todd Lickliter is a finalist for the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award.

ALL-LEAGUE GUARDS: Butler's backcourt tandem of A. J. Graves and Mike Green both earned recognition on the 2006-07 All-Horizon League team, chosen by league coaches, sports information directors and media. Graves, who leads the Bulldogs in scoring (17.3), three-point field goals (2.93) and free throw shooting (.954), was one of three unanimous picks (along with Blake Schilb of Loyola and DaShaun Wood of Wright State) to the all-league first team. Green, who tops Butler in assists (4.00) and rebounding (5.8), earned a spot on the all-league second team. Butler was the lone team to have both of its starting guards named All-Horizon League.

NEW KIDS: Junior Mike Green, who transferred to Butler from Towson, was selected as the 2006-07 Horizon League Newcomer of the Year. He ended the regular season as one of the league leaders in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, free throw shooting and assist/turnover ratio. Junior forward Pete Campbell, who transferred to Butler from IPFW, joined Green on the league's All-Newcomer team. Campbell currently leads the league in three-point field goal shooting (.518).

ALL-DISTRICT: Butler juniors A. J. Graves and Mike Green were among 10 players named to the All-District 10 team, chosen by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Graves was named first team All-District 10, along with Carl Landry of Purdue, Greg Oden of Ohio State, DJ White of Indiana and Russell Carter of Notre Dame. Green earned second team recognition, along with Mike Conley, Jr., of Ohio State, DaShaun Wood of Wright State, Colin Falls of Notre Dame and Romeo Travis of Akron. The 150 Division I players honored from 15 districts are now eligible for the NABC All-America team To Be Announced at the conclusion of the 2006-07 season.

WINS LEADER: Head coach Todd Lickliter owns the top three single season win totals in Butler basketball history - 27 in 2002-03 and this year, and 26 in 2001-02. He's had four 20-win seasons in his six years at Butler.

IRON MEN: Butler has used the same starting lineup of A. J. Graves, Mike Green, Julian Betko, Brandon Crone and Brian Ligon in all but two games this season. Graves didn't start two games after having his wisdom teeth extracted on Jan. 11. Junior Drew Streicher was given the start in those two contests.

FINISHING TOUCH: Senior co-captain Brandon Crone closed out the regular season with seven consecutive double-figures scoring performances, including a team-high 17 points against Detroit. He continued that hot streak with team-highs of 17 points and 10 rebounds against Loyola in the league tournament semifinals. Crone has averaged 15.2 points and 6.4 rebounds over Butler's last five games, and he led the Bulldogs in rebounding in three of the past four contests. The 6-6 forward averaged 12.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in Butler's two regular season games against Wright State.

LEAGUE MARK: Junior Pete Campbell broke the Horizon League record for three-point field goal shooting in league games by connecting on 50 of 86 (58.13%) three-point field goal attempts against conference foes. He narrowly eclipsed the previous record of 58.06%, set by Quitman Dillard of St. Louis in 1990-91.

HANDLE WITH CARE: Butler committed an uncharacteristic 10 turnovers in the league tournament semifinals against Loyola, snapping a streak of four straight games that the Bulldogs finished with fewer than 10 miscues. The Bulldogs have committed less than 10 turnovers in 13 of the past 17 contests and in 20 games overall this season.

Butler leads the NCAA Division I in fewest turnovers per game (9.3).

FIRST DEFENSE: The Bulldogs limited Loyola, the Horizon League's top scoring team, to 54 points in regulation play and 66 points overall in the semifinals of the league tournament. Butler continues to lead the Horizon League in team scoring defense (57.1) and field goal percentage defense (.403). The Bulldogs are second in the league in three-point field goal percentage defense (.326).

Butler is 19-0 when holding an opponent below 60 points.

LEAGUE FIRST: Butler became the first team in Horizon League history to lead the conference in both scoring offense (69.4) and scoring defense (54.9) in league games.

BULLDOG BITS:

•Junior guard A. J. Graves has been named to the Wooden Award Midseason All-America Team. The 30 players selected are the top candidates for the 2006-07 John R. Wooden Award, presented to the nation's top player.

•A. J. Graves became the 31st Butler player to score 1,000 career points during Butler's win at UW-Milwaukee. He currently sits in 17th place on Butler's all-time scoring list with 1,284 career points.

•Junior A. J. Graves has moved back into first place in the NCAA Division I lead in free throw shooting (.958), after hitting 12 of 12 charity tosses against Loyola. He moved ahead of previous leader Derek Raivio of Gonzaga (.9577).

•A. J. Graves ranks fourth in the Horizon League in scoring (17.1). He ranks second in the league in three-point field goals (2.84).

•A. J. Graves has moved into third place on Butler's all-time list for three-point field goals with 198 career three-pointers.

•A. J. Graves stands fifth on Butler's single season list for three-point field goals with 88, eight three-pointers behind Bruce Horan (2003-04) in fourth place.

•A. J. Graves averaged 14.5 points in two meetings with Wright State this year.

•Mike Green stands third on Butler's single season list for free throws made with 184. He's three free throws shy of second place and five away from the school-record of 189, set by Darin Archbold in 1991-92.

•Mike Green has moved into 10th place on Butler's single season list for assists with 129, two shy of the No. 9 spot held by Travis Trice (1993-94).

•Mike Green ranks second in the Horizon League in assists (4.03), fifth in defensive rebounds (4.59), eighth in assist/turnover ratio (1.39), 10th in steals (1.16) and rebounding (5.7) and 11th in scoring (14.3) and free throw shooting (.751).

•Junior Pete Campbell, who led the Bulldogs in the Horizon League semifinals with 18 points, has come off the bench with 15 double-figures scoring performances in Butler's last 18 games. Campbell has averaged 14.1 points in Butler's last 10 games.

•Pete Campbell has hit 62 of 108 (.574) three-point field goal attempts in Butler's last 18 games.

•Pete Campbell has moved into ninth place on Butler's single season list for three-point field goals (71), seven behind Darnell Archey (2002-03) in eighth place.

•Butler leads the Horizon League in scoring margin (+11.8), three-point field goals (8.94), free throw shooting (.766), turnover margin (+3.81), and assist/turnover margin (1.32). The Bulldogs are third in scoring offense (68.8).

•Butler is the all-time leader in Horizon League victories. The Bulldogs have 215 league victories since 1979. Detroit is second with 177 league wins.

Lester Earns Second League Weekly Honor Of The Year -- Tuesday, March 6 2007
Indianapolis, Ind. - After posting a pair of double-doubles and helping the Bulldogs to a strong finish to the regular season, freshman forward Susan Lester has been named the Horizon League's Player of the Week. The league made the announcement on Monday (March 5).

Lester posted her sixth and seventh double-doubles of the season in helping the Bulldogs to a second-place tie in the Horizon League standings this weekend. She finished with 13 points and a career-high 14 rebounds against Youngstown State on Thursday (March 1), going 6-of-12 from the field with three steals. She followed up that performance with a team-high 18 points and 11 rebounds against Cleveland State on Saturday (March 3), going 6-of-11 from the field and 4-of-7 for three.

Her effort helped the Bulldogs to finish the regular season in a second-place tie at 11-5, Butler's highest league win total and finish since the 1997-98 season.

"We're really excited for Susan," head coach Beth Couture said. "It's a great honor for her to be recognized twice in just her first season. But, more importantly, her play this last week has been crucial to our success as a team and helping head into the league tournament with some strong momentum."

The award is Lester's second of the season and Butler's third of the year. Senior Jackie Closser was named player of the week on Jan. 23.

Butler opens up the Horizon League Championship at home on Wednesday (March 7), as the Bulldogs host Youngstown State in a quarterfinal game beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Butler Tabs Three To All-Horizon League Teams -- Tuesday, March 6 2007
Indianapolis, Ind. - A trio of Butler women's basketball players was named to All-Horizon League teams on Monday (March 5), the league office announced. Senior Jackie Closser, sophomore Lade Akande and freshman Susan Lester each earned recognition for their play during the 2006-07 season.

Closser earns her second-straight All-Horizon League First Team mention as one of the league's best three-point shooters this year. The Alexandria, Ind. native currently ranks among the nation's top-25 with 2.5 three-pointers made per game and ranks in the top-50 nationally with an 84.3 percent efficiency from the free throw line. This season alone, she has become the 17th Butler player with 1,000 career points and has become the program's all-time leader in minutes played.

Akande receives an all-league second team nod after leading the Bulldogs and ranking in the top-10 in the Horizon League in scoring with 14.3 points per game. A second-team honoree and all-newcomer team recipient in 2005-06, the Robinson, Ill. native also finds herself listed in the league's top-10 in field goal percentage (49.5 percent), rebounds (5.2 per game) and blocks (1.2 per game). This year, she scored in double-figures in 19 games, including six with 20 points or more.

Lester earns mention as a Horizon League All-Newcomer Team honoree as one of the Bulldogs' most versatile players this season. The Anderson, Ind. native has posted seven double-doubles on the year, the most in the Horizon League this season, and leads the team with 6.3 rebounds per game. A threat to score from both in the paint and on the perimeter, she has converted 42.7 percent of her shots from the field, including 36.1 percent from three-point.





The Bulldogs continue what has become a tradition of league honors since Couture began her tenure at Butler. In fact, at least one member of every recruiting class has received recognition by the league, including Closser, senior Ellen Hamilton (Newcomer Team, 2003-04), junior Cassie Freeman (Newcomer Team, 2004-05), Akande and Lester.

UW-Green Bay's Nicole Soulis was named as the league's Player of the Year, while Kailey Klein from Cleveland State received Newcomer of the Year recognition. Kevin Borseth was named the league's coach of the year after guiding UW-Green Bay to a 25-3 record and first-place finish.

Butler, which finished in a tie for second-place in the league this season, opens up its postseason play at home on Wednesday (March 7) when it hosts Youngstown State beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

First-Team
Jackie Closser, Butler
LaShonda Grant, UIC
Natalie Berglin, UWGB
Nicole Soulis, UWGB
Traci Edwards, UWM

Second-Team
Lade Akande, Butler
Joyce Massey, Detroit
Marquise Hanser, Loyola
Jenna Real, Loyola
Brittney Whiteside, WSU

All-Newcomer Team
Susan Lester, Butler
Kailey Klein, CSU
Jessie Miller, UIC
Maggie McCloskey, Loyola
Heather Karner, YSU

All-Defensive Team
Dominique Butler, CSU
Jackie Parker, UIC
Kayla Groh, UWGB
Nicole Soulis, UWGB
Brittney Whiteside, WSU

Player of the Year: Nicole Soulis, UWGB

Coach of the Year: Kevin Borseth, UWGB

Newcomer of the Year: Kailey Klein, CSU

Men's Tennis Passes First League Test, Downing UW-Green Bay, 6-1 -- Tuesday, March 6 2007
Green Bay, Wis. - Butler opened up its Horizon League slate on the right foot on Saturday (March 3), as the Bulldogs topped UW-Green Bay, 6-1, for their first league win of the season.

Butler claimed wins in the top-two doubles matches for the opening point, as James Low and Ben Raynauld scored a swift 8-2 win at No. 1, and Eric Breitenbach and Sandy Berry added an 8-3 victory at No. 2.

The Bulldogs continued their dominance in singles play, notching wins in each of the top five positions.

Low scored a straight-set win at No. 1, downing Tim Prudlow 6-3, 6-1, while Breitenbach tallied a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Mark Goldin at No. 2. Evan West (6-2, 7-6 [1]) and Raynauld (6-1, 7-5) notched decisions at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, while Berry earned the final point at No. 6 with a strong 6-2, 6-1 victory.

Scott Newmark attempted to finish off the sweep at No. 6, but fell in a tough three-set match to Matt Keesey, 6-7 (4), 7-5, 10-6.

Butler returns to action on Tuesday (March 6) when they host Dayton beginning at 3:00 p.m.

Doubles
1. Low/Raynauld (BU) def. Prudlow/Goldin, 8-2
2. Breitenbach/Berry (BU) def. Hines/Dickert, 8-3
3. Keesey/Clegg (UWGB) def. West/Newmark, 8-5

Singles
1. James Low (BU) def. Tim Prudlow, 6-3, 6-1
2. Eric Breitenbach (BU) def. Mark Goldin, 6-3, 7-5
3. Evan West (BU) def. Matt Clegg, 6-2, 7-6 (1)
4. Ben Raynauld (BU) def. Eric Hines, 6-1, 7-5
5. Sandy Berry (BU) def. Scott Dickert, 6-2, 6-1
6. Matt Keesey (UWGB) def. Scott Newmark, 6-7 (4), 7-5, 10-6

Butler rides OT free throws to men's basketball championship game -- Sunday, March 4 2007
FAIRBORN, Ohio (AP) -- Despite a strong record and Top 25 ranking, Butler is taking nothing for granted.

A.J. Graves, the nation's second-leading free-throw shooter, hit six foul shots in the final 53 seconds of overtime to lead the 18th-ranked Bulldogs to a 67-66 victory over Loyola of Chicago in the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament on Saturday night.

The win was just one more plus on Butler's postseason résumé.

"It was a step in the right direction," said Brandon Crone, who led second-seeded Butler with 17 points. "We don't want to put it in the (NCAA selection) committee's hands."

Butler (27-5) shared the Horizon League's regular-season title with Wright State, but had to travel because the Raiders won a tiebreaker to get the top seed. Wright State (22-9) beat fourth-seeded Wisconsin-Green Bay 67-51 in the other semifinal. The championship game -- and an automatic NCAA Tournament berth -- will be decided Tuesday night.

Graves, who didn't have a field goal, finished with 12 points. Averaging 17.3 points coming in, he was 12-for-12 at the line -- and 0-for-9 from the field. He's shooting 95.4 percent from the line this season.

"It was gratifying to get a win," coach Todd Lickliter said. "It doesn't have to be pretty -- you just have to hang tough."

Blake Schilb scored 29 points and J.R. Blount had 15 for the third-seeded Ramblers (21-11), who lost two overtime games against Butler this season and won one 75-71.

Totaling up the three games, Butler outscored Loyola 208-207. It was that close all season, and particularly so in the teams' biggest game to date.

"I didn't want to lose," an emotional Schilb said. "You always wonder how your college career will end. I don't know if I'll ever play another college game."

The Bulldogs were 10-for-10 from the line over the final 1:51 and didn't score a field goal over the final 4:25 of overtime.

"It was a sense of relief to put this behind us and prepare for the championship game," Crone said.

Schilb had forced the overtime by hitting a running half-hook with 33 seconds left in regulation to tie it at 54.

The Bulldogs ran the clock down before calling timeout with 14.8 seconds left. Graves then drove from the top of the key to the right baseline, attempting to draw a foul on Majak Kou. But Graves' off-balance shot from 12 feet was an airball and the rebound went off teammate Julian Betko's hands and out of bounds with two seconds left.

On the final play of regulation, Andy Polka inbounded to midcourt to Schilb, who got a wide-open look. His 3-pointer left his hand just before the buzzer sounded and bounded off the back of the rim.

The teams were tied at 61 with 1:11 left in the overtime, before Graves took the game over in his own quiet way.

Graves made the defensive play of the game, stepping in front of a Schilb pass and driving the distance before being fouled with 52.4 seconds left. He hit both free throws.

Loyola turned it over again, throwing the ball away on an inbounds play, with Graves again fouled on the play and hitting both shots for a 65-61 lead with 28 seconds left.

"He found another way to score," Lickliter said of Graves' offensive contributions.

Schilb banged in a 3 at the other end before Graves was fouled on the inbounds pass and converted two more to make it 67-64. Kou's basket cut it to one.

Graves turned the ball over when he was forced out of bounds in a multiplayer trap, but Schilb's shot while slicing through the heart of the lane was off the mark and a tip also missed, the ball going out of bounds to Loyola.

The Ramblers inbounded to Blount, but he was tied up and was unable to get off a shot.

"It's difficult to be up here as a losing coach. It was up for grabs until the last play," Loyola's Jim Whitesell said. "One more possession -- that's what it came down to."

Notes and Quotes
No. 2 Butler 67, No. 3 Loyola 66


Butler Head Coach Todd Lickliter
On the game:
"We played really good teams this year. Conference play has been demanding. Loyola is well balanced; they put you in tough sports, and they are well coached. It's gratifying to get a win down the wire. It doesn't have to be pretty. Our guys hung tough. I'm proud of them. It was a great game for our league. There have been three well-played games."


On the last 10 seconds of OT:
"It was tense. I made a mistake. I was concerned when we inbounced in the corner and called a timeout. I tried to wave it off, but they wouldn't. We tried to inbound to AJ to get him fouled. We take great pride in defending and that was our chance. I thought Brian Lighton was huge. He has guarded multiple positions for us."


Win without Graves having a field goal:
"It says more about their team. They really defended him well. He went 12 for 1 from the line. He found a way to score."


Butler player Pete Campbell
On Graves off night:
"He struggled a little bit, but played really well. We're not a one-man team. He set up Brandon (Woods) in regulation and got me some good looks. Even though he was not hitting, he was drawing attention on off-the-ball schemes."


On the atmosphere:
"We played neck and neck. It got more tense and more louder after each team made a basket. We looked at each other, set our defense and got the stop. The atmosphere was amazing at the end."


Butler player Brandon Crone
On Loyola:
"Loyola has played us tough all three times. We had to bare down and (Brian) Ligon was the player of the game."


On the first-round bye and it's effects:
"To get your legs fresh was good. My legs were fresh. To take them to overtime helped us."


Goal to win the league:
"This was a step in the right direction. We don't want it in the committee's hands. We're not secure until we have the championship at hand."


Loyola Head Coach Jim Whitesell
On the game:
"It was a great basketball game. It's tough to be up here as the losing coach. I'm proud of our guys. It was anyone's game until the last play. We though this game would be. They fought the whole time; every position. It's tough for us to take. Congratulations to Butler."


On the last 10 seconds of OT
"Guys did a great job doubling up and he stepped out of bounds. We got a good shot. JR made a good cut and he was fouled. Good execution by these guys. It was what it was at the end. We played to the last buzzer. You have to against Butler."


On the close game with Butler:
"I'd love to have one more possession. You saw two teams playing their butts off. It was a great basketball game. It looked like Blakes' shot was in at the end of regulation. Give me one more possession."


Loyola player Blake Schilb
On the last play:
"I didn't see J.R. until the last second. It was slightly too late. I still thought it might get tied up before the time ran out.


Your thoughts as the game progressed and the future:
"I was thinking I didn't want to lose. It's always tough. You wonder how your season/career will end. I'm not sure if I'll play another college game. I had fun at Loyola and if I'm' going out, it was the way to go."


Loyola player J.R. Blount
On the last play:
"There wasn't a lot of time. I took a cut and Blake found me. I saw the ref call a jump ball. There's nothing we can do about it now?


Notes:

Butler (27-5) will play either the top seed, Wright State, or No. 4 Wisconsin-Green Bay Tuesday in the championship game at the site of the highest remaining seed. (The 9 p.m. game will be televised on ESPN.) •
This is the first overtime game in the history of the league championship since Loyola defeated UIC, 87-81, in the 2005 semifinals. It's the seventh OT game in tournament history. Butler has been involved in four of those; Loyola in three. •
Butler won the 2001 Horizon League championship at the Nutter Center. It is also the second straight appearance for the Bulldogs in the conference finals. The Bulldogs also won the 1997 championship in Dayton. •
Butler is looking for it's fifth championship all-time. Xavier holds the league record with six. •
The Bulldogs' 27 wins equaled its school record for wins in a season set in 2002-03. •
Loyola has played in three straight semifinal Horizon League games and has lost all three games. •
The Ramblers end the season 21-11, which was their greatest number of wins since 1984-85.