Sean McDermott and Aaron Thompson each scored 16 points to lead No. 24 Butler to a 76-62 victory against Florida on Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis.
Jordan Tucker scored 13 points and Kamar Baldwin added 12 for the Bulldogs (9-0), who won their 56th nonconference game at Hinkle Fieldhouse. McDermott also had a team-high seven rebounds.
Kerry Blackshear Jr. had 17 points and five rebounds for the Gators (6-3), who shot 43.8 percent (21 of 48) overall but 23.1 percent (6 of 26) from long distance. Noah Locke and Andrew Nembhard each had 11 points.
The Bulldogs shot 52.1 percent (25 of 48) overall and sank 9 of 20 from 3-point range. They also outrebounded the Gators 28-25.
Ahead 39-33, Butler scored six straight points to build a 12-point advantage with 14:35 remaining. The points came via Bryce Golden's layup, Thompson's free throw and Baldwin's 3-pointer.
The Gators never got closer than nine points over the last 15:15, as the Bulldogs led by as many as 19 points with 7:33 to go.
Butler's 19-5 run during the final 5:26 built a 35-26 halftime lead. Tucker and McDermott each scored 10 points in the first half and were a combined 4 of 9 from 3-point range.
Locke's nine points led Florida, which shot 25 percent (2 of 8) from the foul line and 30.8 percent (4 of 13) from 3-point range during the first 20 minutes.
Florida finished 14 of 21 from the line and Butler was 17 of 22.
The Gators went on a 12-1 run to take a 19-13 lead with 7:46 left in the half. Mann hit a jumper and 3-pointer to fuel the spurt.
--Field Level Media
