In 2013, the Butler University men’s basketball team played in the national championship game.
The Bulldogs are nowhere near that caliber right now, but they showed that they are far superior to the rebuilding University of Maine team.
Kellen Dunham nailed five 3-pointers and Butler shot a sizzling 72 percent from the field while surging to a season-opening 99-57 victory over the Black Bears Saturday evening at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
The Bulldogs were able to overmatch UMaine physically in the paint, beat the Black Bears down the floor in transition and connect from the perimeter. Butler made 41 of 57 shots, going 8-for-16 from long range, and outrebounded UMaine 31-21.
Coach Bob Walsh’s ballclub also struggled with turnovers, especially in the first half. Butler capitalized, scoring 32 points off miscues by the Bears, who committed 18.
The Bulldogs placed six players in double figures paced by Dunham, who hit five of seven 3-pointers. Roosevelt Jones contributed 14 points, nine assists and two steals and Andrew Chrabascz posted 13 points.
Kelan Martin provided 12 points and Austin Etherington added 11 for the winners, who got six rebounds and six assists from Alex Barlow.
Senior Zarko Vajarevic led UMaine with 12 points and six rebounds and freshman point guard Aaron Calixte tallied 12 points along with two assists and two steals.
Kevin Little added nine points, three assists and a steal and Till Gloger chipped in with eight points and four rebounds.
The Black Bears shot 39 percent (21-for-54) and hit only five of 21 3-point attempts. They went 10-for-14 from the foul line.
UMaine was hanging tough late in the first half as a 3-pointer by Little cut Butler’s lead to 34-24 with 4:05 remaining. However, the hosts surged to end the half.
Dunham buried a 3-pointer, then Kameron Woods made a layup and Dunham drove in for a layup of his own. A UMaine turnover then led to a jumper by Jones that made it 43-24 with 22 seconds left in the half.
The Bulldogs then made a big push to start the second half. Dunham connected on back-to-back 3-pointers, then consecutive turnovers by Shaun Lawton and Till Gloger led to dunks by Jones and Woods. That pushed the advantage to 53-27 with 18:12 to play.
UMaine never got closer than 19 the rest of the way.
The Black Bears are back in action on Monday with a 7 p.m. contest at New Jersey Institute of Technology.