3 reasons Butler basketball beat DePaul: Eric Hunter Jr. shines, Bulldogs adjust on offense

INDIANAPOLIS -- A late DePaul run threatened to ruin the night, but Eric Hunter Jr. and Butler basketball's shooting and efficiency were enough as the Bulldogs picked up their second win in Big East play, 78-70. Here are three reasons Butler beat the Blue Devils.

Butler counters DePaul's defense with ball movement

DePaul began the game with a defense that forced Butler away from 3-pointers and shots at the rim. What was left? Looks from midrange, particularly off of ball screens. The Bulldogs didn't attempt their first 3 until nearly 7 minutes in as DePaul closed out hard on the perimeter, double-teamed in the paint and took them out of their usual offense with a trap in the backcourt after made baskets.

More:'Stone cold' Eric Hunter Jr.'s career-night shows why Butler needs him in win over DePaul

But Butler stayed patient and rarely forced shots, slashing, passing when the defense collapsed and swinging the ball around the perimeter. The Bulldogs took nine 3-pointers over the last 9 minutes of the first half and finished the night 7-for-15 from deep. Much of their production came from guards; forward Manny Bates, who entered the night averaging 13.5 points per game, took just five shots and finished with 11.

Eric Hunter Jr. is a veteran presence Butler needs

As Butler improved offensively, the driving force and steadying presence was fifth-year senior and Purdue transfer Eric Hunter Jr. He scored 23 points, grabbed five rebounds and doled out two assists while passing the 1,000 point mark for his college career. He kept the ball moving, shot when he was open and pushed the pace when he had the chance, controlling the tempo with fellow guard Chuck Harris.

It was a performance the Bulldogs badly needed as DePaul took away much of their inside presence, a presence that got thinner in the second half. Forward Jalen Thomas started the game, but the smaller, quicker Ali Ali replaced him with the starters after the break. Thomas played 4 minutes in the second half, but the change left only one traditional big on the floor for much of the last 20 minutes.

DePaul makes it interesting late

After the first half, Butler generally kept DePaul at arm's length. It was never a blowout, but the Bulldogs kept the Blue Demons around 10 points away for almost the entire second half as the visitors struggled to shoot. DePaul's only runs came when it made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions: once early in the second half, and again in the final minutes in a 6-for-24 performance. Butler's lead dwindled to 4 points late, but the Blue Demons couldn't cut it further.

Butler 78, DePaul 70

DEPAUL (7-9): Anei 6-8 2-2 14, Johnson 3-12 2-3 8, Penn 2-4 2-2 6, Gibson 6-13 1-2 16, Terry 1-7 0-0 3, Nelson 6-9 2-3 14, Gebrewhit 3-5 1-1 9, Bynum 0-1 0-0 0, Cruz 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-60 10-13 70.

BUTLER (10-6): J.Thomas 2-4 1-2 5, Bates 3-5 5-7 11, Harris 2-8 0-0 5, Hunter 8-13 4-6 23, Lukosius 2-7 7-8 12, Ali 3-6 0-0 6, Taylor 4-10 6-7 16. Totals 24-53 23-30 78.

Halftime—Butler 34-25. 3-Point Goals_DePaul 6-24 (Gibson 3-7, Gebrewhit 2-3, Terry 1-5, Bynum 0-1, Nelson 0-1, Penn 0-1, Johnson 0-6), Butler 7-15 (Hunter 3-5, Taylor 2-3, Harris 1-2, Lukosius 1-3, Ali 0-2). Fouled Out_Johnson, Bates. Rebounds_DePaul 27 (Penn 7), Butler 31 (Bates, Harris, Hunter, Taylor 5). Assists_DePaul 19 (Gibson 8), Butler 10 (Bates, Lukosius 3). Total Fouls_DePaul 20, Butler 15.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Butler basketball beats DePaul in Big East play behind Eric Hunter Jr.