Shelvin Mack led the Bulldogs with 21 points. (AP Photo/ Chris Carlson)
It may have taken Butler (10 USA Today/ 12 AP) a half century, but they finally got their next win over UCLA (2-3).
The Bulldogs gutted out a late win over the Bruins after leading the entire game. Gordon Hayward drove the lane and was fouled with 0.6 seconds remaining and hit two free throws to give Butler the 69-67 win.
Normally in situations like at the end of the game, teams take a time out to set up a play to ensure a good shot. Hayward too matters into his own hands and showed what many have wanted to see for a while, an offensive aggressiveness.
"When I had the ball and looked up, I didn't realize that we didn't have that much time left," Hayward told reporters. "I just tried to take (the ball) down the floor and get to the basket."
Hayward did get the basket and sank the two free throws which ultimately gave the Bulldogs the win and gave the Bruins yet another loss, and their second consecutive loss, on the young season.
Butler (4-1) received a season-high offensive performance from Sophomore shooting guard Shelvin Mack, who scored 21 points and added five rebounds.
Mack is currently averaging 16 points per game and has set a new season high in each of the first five games. Mack was 6-10 from the field including 2-5 from beyond the arc.
Butler was unsuccesful against the Bruins defense early in the game and only had a 14-11 lead after eight minutes of play.
Hayward's free throws gave Butler the win. (Luis Sinco/ LA Times)
Then Butler used a 16-5 run to extend their lead to 14 points with a score of 30-16. The run was led by Mack who scored the final nine points including three three-point plays, two of which were the conventional three point shot.
Butler was then able to keep a healthy 42-35 lead going into the break. The Bruins weren't going to go away quietly. At the beginning of the second half, the Bruins were able to hold Butler's offensive production to a minimum and were able to jump right back into the game. They quickly trimmed the Butler lead to 3 at 47-44.
The game was tight coming down the stretch and the Bruins were able to keep hitting clutch shots. It came down to a Jerime Anderson three point shot that tied the game at 67-67 with 8.6 seconds left.
Butler then received an aggressive play from Hayward and was able to win the game.
Hayward finished the game with 11 points and eight rebounds. It was Hayward's most aggressive game of the season. He was 3-10 from the three-point line and attempted a season high 14 shots.
Anderson's shot almost gave the Bruins a win. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Hayward continues to fill the stat sheet. He is currently averaging 14 points per game to go along with 8.4 rebounds per game and 1.6 assists per game.
Matt Howard again found himself in foul trouble. He received two personal fouls in the first eight minutes of the game and was relegated to the bench much of the game. He eventually fouled out with about 3 minutes remaining in the game. He has fouled out in four consecutive games.
Howard finished the game with just six points and four rebounds in only 16 minutes of play.
The Bulldogs had a terrible second half of shooting, which included just 28% from the field.
Butler shot 19-48 (39.6%) from the field including 7-24 (29.2%) from beyond the arc throughout the game. UCLA was 25-53 (47.2%) from the field including 7-19 (36.8%) from three.
UCLA was led by Senior forward Nikola Dragovic with 14 points (2-4 on 3 pointers) off the bench for the Bruins.
Sophomore shooting guard Malcolm Lee had 11 points on 4-11 shooting from the field. He also added four assists and three rebounds in 34 minutes.
The Bulldogs now head into the consolation championship game on Sunday 11/29 at 7:30 EST versus Clemson (5-1). Clemson (19 USA Today/ 19 AP) defeated Long Beach State 87-79 to advance on Saturday as well.
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