Jan 31, 2007, 16:10 GMT
Youngstown, OH - The 13th-ranked Butler Bulldogs are clearly the class of the Horizon League, and they will attempt to avoid an upset on the road tonight as they take on the Youngstown State Penguins.
Butler, which is 20-2 overall and 8-1 in league play, has won six straight games since its lone HL loss in overtime to Illinois-Chicago. The Bulldogs have won five of the last six by double figures, including a 71-45 romp over that same UIC team in a revenge game on Monday.
Youngstown State does not appear to be a worthy opponent for Butler, at least in regard to records, as the Penguins are just 9-13 overall and 4-6 in conference. The last two outings for the team have resulted in defeat, including an 80-68 setback on Monday against Loyola-Chicago.
Butler owns an 11-2 advantage in the all-time series with Youngstown State, and the Bulldogs crushed the Penguins by a score of 67-39 two weeks ago.
Pete Campbell scored 17 points off the bench to lead Butler to the 26- point victory over UIC on Monday night. Mike Green tallied 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Bulldogs, helping to overshadow the fact that leading scorer A.J. Graves was limited to six points. Strong defense was obviously key to the blowout, as Butler limited UIC to 29.6 percent shooting from the field. Overall this season, Graves is netting 18.2 ppg on the strength of his 97 percent shooting from the foul line, but his 39.8 percent efficiency from the field could certainly stand some improvement. Green checks in with 13.3 ppg and 89 assists, while Brandon Crone is scoring 10.2 ppg. The Bulldogs are posting a respectable 68.4 ppg while limiting opponents to 55.7 ppg on 39.6 percent shooting from the floor.
While he doesn't get a great deal of attention because of the lack of team success, Youngstown State's Quin Humphrey is one of the elite players in the Horizon League. Humphrey is scoring 17.9 ppg and had topped 20 points in three straight outings. Keston Roberts is a tremendous performer as well, as he checks in with 16.1 ppg. Still, the Penguins are averaging a modest 65.4 ppg while allowing 67.2 ppg to opponents. Against Loyola on Monday, Humphrey scored 23 points on 8-of-21 shooting from the floor. Roberts pitched in 18 points, and Jack Liles had 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Penguins made good on a mere 37.1 percent of their field goal attempts, including a 5-of-21 showing from three-point range.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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