INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.- Brandon Crone scored a game-high 18 points and Butler used a stifling defense to down Elon, 86-40, in a non-league game at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Monday, Dec. 19. The victory lifted the Bulldogs to 6-4 on the year, while Elon fell to 2-8.

The Bulldogs limited Elon to just three points in the first 17 minutes of the game, while jumping to a 26-point advantage. By the time Elon scored its second field goal in the initial half, Butler held a 33-8 lead. The visitors finished the first half with just three field goals in 21 attempts, and Butler took a 36-12 advantage to the locker room.

The Bulldogs struggled early in the game, managing just one three-point field goal by Crone in the first five minutes. But that one goal was enough to give Butler the lead for good at 3-2. The home squad stretched the lead to 8-2 on a basket by A. J. Graves and a field goal and a free throw by Brandon Polk.

Elon tallied its third point eight minutes into the contest, but the Bulldogs answered with a 21-0 run to take control of the game.

Butler stretched its lead to 40 points midway through the second half, before eventually posting its largest margin at the final buzzer.

Crone led four Bulldogs in double-figures. Bruce Horan hit five three-point field goals and finished with 15 points, Polk notched 11 and Graves added ten.

Scottie Rice led Elon with 13 point off the bench while adding three assists and two steals. Montell Watson added eight points and Chris Chalko led the Phoenix with four rebounds.

Elon returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 21 in a 7 p.m. contest at Buffalo.

-ELON-