OT unkind to Golden Eagles in loss to Bulldogs

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Andrew Chrabascz helped the Butler Bulldogs gain the extra time they needed to salvage an improbable road victory.

Chrabascz scored a career-high 30 points and No. 25 Butler overcame a 10-point deficit in the final 4:21 of regulation to beat Marquette 72-68 in overtime over Marquette in a Big East Conference game on Saturday.

"He had a whale of a game," said Marquette coach Steve Wojciechowski. "I mean, he was the guy that put Butler on his back. Not that there wasn't other big plays that their kids made, but he was the player of the game."

The Bulldogs opened a 66-61 lead on a layin by Chrabascz with 1:09 left in overtime, but Marquette rallied within 66-65 on baskets by Duane Wilson and Juan Anderson.

Butler took advantage of being in the double bonus and converted all six free-throw attempts in the final 24.5.

"We really just tried to stay with it, chip away," said Butler coach Chris Holtmann. "We said to them, 'Hey, if this thing is in the last 30-45 seconds and it's a one-possession game, then we've done our job and it's our time to answer the bell."

Kellen Dunham added 17 points and Alex Barlow 15 for Butler (16-6, 6-3 Big East). Wilson and Matt Carlino had 18 points apiece for Marquette (10-11, 2-7), which lost its fifth straight.

Carlino, who led the conference in 3-pointers made, was just 3-of-12 from beyond the arc and missed all four 3-point attempts in overtime, although one was a heave at the buzzer.

"They're an incredibly physical team," Wojciechowski said. "And, they're a great offensive rebounding team. Their kids crash the boards really hard. We knew that going into the game. We're not a great defensive rebounding team by any stretch because of our size. That's something we have to do a better job with."

Chrabascz, averaging 10 points per game, was 11-of-17 from the field and made all seven free-throw attempts. He and Dunham accounted for 12 of Butler's 14 overtime points.

"He's a good player," said Luke Fisher, who often was matched up against Chrabascz. "He goes up against bigger guys every night, so he knows how to use his body well and score the ball over taller guys. "

Marquette, which trailed 29-26 at the half, turned a technical foul on Holtmann into two free throws and a basket on the following possession to open a 55-45 lead with 4:20 remaining.

Butler pulled within 55-50 on a three-point play by Chrabascz, but Carlino answered with a deep 3-pointer from the top right to make it 58-50.

Chrabascz hit two free throws and Alex Barlow followed with a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 58-56 with 1:21 remaining.

On the ensuing possession, Marquette's Derrick Wilson missed a jumper from the left side. Butler pushed the ball upcourt and Dunham tied it with a lean-in jumper from the free-throw line with 27 seconds left.

Marquette turned the ball over on an inbounds play with 4.3 seconds left, but Roosevelt Jones' driving floater bounced off the rim at the buzzer.

"We had a couple breakdowns at the end of the game," Wojciechowski said. "A couple where we fouled, where you'd stop the clock and give them a chance to get points with the clock stopped. We missed a crucial defensive rebound off a missed free throw and then in transition, we let one of their best shooters, we lost him and to his credit he hit a big shot."