Dunham scores 21 to lead No. 22 Butler past St. John’s 85-62

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Kellen Dunham had 21 points and seven rebounds to lead No. 22 Butler to an 85-62 victory over St. John’s on Tuesday night.

Alex Barlow scored 15 points and Andrew Chrabascz added 14 for the Bulldogs (17-6, 7-3 Big East), who have won four straight conference games.

Sir’Dominic Pointer had 19 points and six rebounds, and Rysheed Jordan scored 17 for the Red Storm (14-8, 3-6), who have lost three of four. Junior big man Chris Obekpa was ejected in the first half for hitting Butler’s Tyler Wideman in the back of the head.

The Bulldogs went on a 14-2 run to start the second half and took a 50-30 lead when Dunham made five free throws with 16:28 remaining. Dunham was fouled by Pointer on a 3-point attempt, and Pointer was given a technical when he protested the call.

After slipping past the Red Storm 73-69 in their first matchup this season on Jan. 3, Butler wouldn’t let St. John’s get on a roll this time.

When Phil Greene made a 3-pointer midway through the second half to make it 51-37, Dunham answered with a 3 of his own. And when Jordan converted a three-point play, Barlow was fouled driving to the basket and finished his own three-point play to put the Bulldogs ahead 57-40 with 12:59 remaining.

In the first half, Obekpa was called for a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected at the 8:26 mark when he hit Wideman as they jogged downcourt. Wideman was assisted to the bench by trainers and later cleared to return.

Chrabascz made both free throws and Austin Etherington scored to give the Bulldogs a 19-9 lead midway through the first half.

Chrabascz later gave Butler a 28-17 lead, but Green answered with a 3 to pull the Red Storm within eight. Chrabascz scored again to make it 30-20 at the 4:42 mark.

The Red Storm got within six when Jordan made a free throw with less than a minute left in the first half, but Kameron Woods dunked to give the Bulldogs a 36-28 halftime lead.