Smith powers Butler to win over Richmond
by David Woods, USA TODAY Sports
INDIANAPOLIS — Andrew Smith was already 6-11, and he continues to grow as a college basketball player.
The senior center had 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists, powering No. 13 Butler to a 62-47 victory over Richmond in an Atlantic 10 game tonight before 7,022 at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Butler had a staggering 53-20 advantage in rebounds, led by Roosevelt Jones’ 12.
The victory was the 12th in a row by the Bulldogs, who played without injured scoring leader Rotnei Clarke. He is sidelined by a sprained neck as a result of a scary fall at Dayton.
Butler will take a 15-2 record into Saturday’s game against No. 8 Gonzaga in the first-ever Hinkle match-up of Top 15 teams.
Kellen Dunham scored 11 points for Butler and Jones 10.
Richmond fell to 11-7, 1-2. Darien Brothers led the Spiders with 12 points.
The Bulldogs started the second half with Smith’s basket and Khyle Marshall’s rebound dunk, expanding their lead to 37-21.
The lead grew to 46-26 after a three-pointer by Andrew Smeathers, who hadn’t scored since the Nov. 27 game against Hanover.
Butler led 50-32 before the Spiders closed the gap to 50-41 with a 9-0 run that took only 60 seconds. Brothers scored eight of Richmond’s points in that run.
Alex Barlow’s three-pointer from the left corner sent Butler to a 33-21 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs held Richmond to a 4-of-23 start from the field in building a 23-11 edge. Barlow’s jump shot capped an 8-0 spurt by Butler that also featured Kameron Woods’ rebound basket and dunk.
David Woods also writes for the Indianapolis Star
… [For more on Andrew Smith powers No. 13 Butler to easy win over Richmond, click here.]
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