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Hayward, Butler hold off Detroit

Feb 6, 2009 - 8:25 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Freshman Gordon Hayward scored 22 points and Shelvin Mack had 14 as No. 11 Butler held on for a 66-61 victory over Detroit in a Horizon League contest on Thursday.

Hayward made four 3-pointers and was 7-of-8 from the floor to notch his fifth 20-point game of the season. The 6-8 forward was 4-of-5 from the foul line.

Butler (20-2, 11-1 Horizon) was coming off a 75-66 setback at Wisconsin-Green Bay on Monday, which snapped its 21-game league winning streak.

The Bulldogs looked like the loss was behind them early on - thanks to Hayward, who made four quick shots and helped Butler jump out to a 23-13 lead with 9:51 left before the break.

Detroit cut the deficit to three but Butler finished the first half strong and pushed the lead up to 35-25 at the intermission on Mack's putback layup.

The Bulldogs continued to let the Titans hang around and Woody Payne's steal and layup cut the Butler lead to 44-40 with 10:35 to play.

Payne made a pair of free throws to pull Detroit within one but Hayward answered with a 3-pointer to give Butler a 48-44 lead with 6:58 remaining. The basket was Butler's first in nearly 5 1/2 minutes.

Butler, which led by at least four the rest of the way, was able to hold firm, making 12-of-14 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Payne scored 19 points and Chris Hayes had a season-high 18 to lead the Titans (6-16, 1-11).

It was Detroit's fifth straight loss against Butler. The Titans have lost 14 straight games against ranked opponents.