Official Game Stats
Postgame Press Conference Quotes
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Butler connected on nine of 18 three-point shooting in the first half and finished with 15 for the game to hand South Alabama its first double-digit loss of the season, 81-61 Friday afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Daon Merritt was the only South Alabama player in double figures with 14 points. Daniel Hayles had nine points, while Domonic Tilford added eight. DeAndre Coleman led the rebounding effort with eight.
Pete Campbell of Butler (30-3) led all scorers with 26 points, hitting eight of 10 three-point tries and his only attempt from inside the arc. A.J. Graves knocked down four treys to enroute to 18 points.
South Alabama was ahead 23-22 with 7:32 left in the first half when Butler launched its assault. Campbell hit a jumper to start a 7-0 run that gave the Bulldogs a 29-23 lead. After a three by DeAndre Coleman, only his fourth of the season, used a 13-2 spurt that included four three-pointers. One of the final daggers was another Campbell three-pointer with six seconds left, sending Butler to the locker room with a 17-point lead, 47-30.
The Bulldogs hits 58.6 percent in the period overall and made all four free throws. They finished the game hitting 50.9 percent, including 53.6 percent from three-point range. Butler also connected on 12 of 13 free throws.
South Alabama made a charge early in the second half, opening with an 8-3 surge that cut the lead to 12, but Graves, Mike Green and Campbell hit consecutive threes to push the back into the 20s for the rest of the game. Butler led by as many as 27 points, 74-47 in the final five minutes.
The Jaguars finished the game shooting 43.8 percent, but made only six of 20 three-point tries. They also struggled at the line, making only 13 of 27 for the afternoon.
The loss ended the Jaguars' season at 26-7, the highest win total in school history. However, the eighth NCAA Tournament appearance ended the same way seven others have -- with a loss in the first round.
