Simas Lukosius' career-high gets Butler back in the win column vs. Villanova

Butler returned to the friendly confines of Hinkle Fieldhouse and ended its two-game skid with a 79-71 win over Villanova.

Here's three reasons the Bulldogs (11-8, 3-5) returned to the win column.

Big game from Simas Lukosius

Villanova mounted a 14-0 run to start the second half, and the turnover-heavy, stagnant offense that plagued Butler during its two-game East Coast trip appeared again. Then Simas Lukosius took over.

The sophomore's shooting singlehandedly kept the Dawgs in the game. Every time Villanova (8-10, 2-5) made a basket and started to generate positive moment, Lukosius answered with a well-timed basket. The Lithuania native's first triple ended Nova's 16-1 second-half run. Lukosius converted a three-point play and sank consecutive triples, tying the score at 60 with 6:01 left in the game. Lukosius sank two free throws to put the Dawgs ahead for good and his tough floater over big man Eric Dixson was the knockout blow.

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Lukosius shot 5-for-8 from 3 and finished with a team-high 28 points. The five treys and 28 points are both new career highs for Lukosius.

"I just shot with confidence," Lukosius said. "As a team we didn't have very good shooting nights this past weekend and just in general this whole Big East season. Coach (Matta) talked about it in practice that this is our house and we work harder than most people do. There's no reason for us to not make those shots. I did, we did today."

Life without Manny Bates

Butler starting center Manny Bates spent the second half of Tuesday's game against St. John's on the bench and the reason why was revealed before Friday's tip against Villanova. Butler coach Thad Matta said Bates had been playing through a knee injury and had a procedure done to address the issue. Matta said they hope to have Bates back for the stretch run of the season, signaling an extended absence for the big man is likely.

Without Bates, the Dawgs started Jalen Thomas at the five, giving them less size inside but more shooting and athleticism. Without Bates in the middle, Chuck Harris had more room to operate in the paint and attack the basket. Harris' aggressiveness fueled the Dawgs offense, and once the shifty junior stated getting downhill, drive-and-kicks to Ali Ali and Lukosius, and dump-offs to Thomas down low opened up.

The offense looked different without Bates and the Dawgs had success, but playing Villanova was the perfect opponent for the Dawgs to play an undersized lineup. Nova lacks the dominant big man that conference teams like UConn, Creighton, Seton Hall and St. John's used to punish Butler inside.

Butler started the first half 0-for-5 from 3, they ended the half 5-for-9 and finished 9-for-21. It's hard to lose a player like Bates and get better, but a hampered version of the NC State transfer was not the difference-maker he proved to be early in the season.

"There's so many things honestly, because you're going along and (injuries) happen," Matta said of the difficulty of replacing Bates. "I think these guys will be tested. We're down to nine guys, John-Michael (Mulloy) had surgery this morning. ... But that's what you want to see. That to me is Butler basketball.

"We'll get Manny back whenever we can and keep moving forward. We got better tonight, and that's what you want to do."

Connor Turnbull flashes off bench, interior defense needs to improve

Connor Turnbull received extended playing time in Bates' absence. The freshman showed off his nimble footwork using a rip move to split two defenders for his first points of the game. On the next possession, Eric Hunter Jr. threw a lob inside and Turnbull finished for two more points. Turnbull has the potential to be a strong scorer, but he struggled on defense, picking up two fouls in four minutes before heading back to the bench.

"We see how he works every day and he's a really talented kid," Lukosius said. "We're very happy that he got an opportunity today. Our offense was flowing, we were making shots and he was too. He was in good positions and he did a good job. I'm happy for him."

Without Bates, the Dawgs interior defense was weakened. Nova pounded the ball inside during its second-half run, and Dixson (22 points) was too strong for Turnbull and Thomas at times.

Outside of Turnbull and Thomas, and with DJ Hughes out with injury, the Dawgs do not have any big bodies to turn to. It will take a team effort to improve its defense down low.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Butler basketball vs. Villanova: Simas Lukosius scores 28 in Dawgs win