Recap: Butler vs. Wright State

Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Andrew Smith scored a game-high 25 points as Butler easily took care of Wright State, 70-52, in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Also scoring in double figures for the fifth-seeded Bulldogs (19-13) were Roosevelt Jones and Chrishawn Hopkins with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The eighth-seeded Raiders (13-19) were paced by Cole Darling with 12 points and Julius Mays 11 as they saw their tournament run come to an abrupt end.

Ronald Nored, who finished with nine points and six assists, scored all of his points in the first half, but still Butler led by just a single point at the break, 30-29.

In the second half Wright State went cold from the floor (6-of-20) and made just 1-of-8 beyond the arc and 10-of-18 at the free-throw line, opening the door for Butler to run away with the 18-point win. The Bulldogs converted 57.1 percent from the field in the period and beat the Raiders on the glass by a 19-9 margin.

Butler, which has appeared in the title game of the tournament the last six years, winning it three times and advancing to the NCAA Tournament title game in each of the last two campaigns, easily won the rebounding battle, 36-18.

With the win the Bulldogs move to the second round of the tournament on Friday night where they will match up against Milwaukee which defeated Illinois- Chicago, 68-55, on Tuesday night as well.