Fourth Estate Newspaper

Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Photo by Matt Becker/Fourth Estate Junior guard Rahmon Fletcher was one of the bright spots in the Phoenix loss, 75-57, to Horizon League leader, the Butler Bulldogs.

The Horizon League's best took center court at the Resch Center where the Phoenix men fell to No. 18 nationally ranked Butler Bulldogs 75-57 Jan. 29.
The Bulldogs came into the game with a 17-4 (10-0 conference) record, becoming one of the elite teams in the nation. Yet, on the other side the Phoenix was looking to repeat last year's upset victory.
After the opening tip the Bulldogs scored in the first five seconds of the game to take the early lead, but the Phoenix would quickly follow with a basket of its own. Both teams would trade baskets before the Phoenix gained a small three-point lead, 23-20 with seven minutes to go in the first half.
Butler closed the gap and took a four-point lead, 29-33, to end the first half. Both teams were even shooting more than 40 percent from the field, but the Phoenix only shot 12.5 percent from behind the 3-point arc in the first half. The Phoenix also controlled the paint during the first 20 minutes, out scoring the Bulldogs 16-8.
"We were 1-8 at halftime from three," said Phoenix Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk. "We didn't make shots, and I thought that hurt us.
"There are two sides to that story," said Bulldogs Head Coach Brad Stevens. "Foul trouble was our side, and their side was they were 1-8 from three and missed some good looks. We were fortunate to be in a position to win."
The Phoenix missed some opportunities when reigning Horizon League Player of the Year Matt Howard and NBA prospect Gordon Hayward were both in early foul trouble and rarely saw the court during the first half.
After a fairly even first half the second half was one sided in favor of the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs started out the second half on a 19 to 7 run to gain a 16-point lead, 36-52, over the first seven minutes of the second half.
The shooting woes continued as the Phoenix struggled to get in a rhythm or get the Bulldogs out of one. The Bulldogs' shot 71 percent in the second half to the Phoenix's 35 percent. Unlike the first half, Butlers' Howard and Hayward both stayed out of foul trouble and ended with a combined 27 points.
On the other side, offense was rare, outside the likes of Phoenix junior guard Ramon Fletcher who led the team with 24 points.
The loss drops the Phoenix four games behind the Bulldogs in conference and in a tie for second with three other teams.

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