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Butler looks to continue storybook season vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Dec 30, 2006 - 5:13 PM No. 15 Butler (12-1) at Wisc Milwaukee (3-11) 8:00 pm EST

Milwaukee (Ticker) -- Butler will look to add to its impressive start with a conference win.

The 15th-ranked Bulldogs will visit Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Saturday in their second conference game of the season.

After being picked to finish sixth in the Horizon League by preseason pundits, Butler won the NIT Season Tip-Off with wins over Notre Dame, Indiana, Tennessee and Gonzaga. The Bulldogs have built off the early success, starting the month with a league victory over Cleveland State on December 2.

In its last contest, A.J. Graves scored 22 points and Butler capitalized on a late technical foul in an 86-75 victory over Evansville. In beating their intrastate rival for the eighth time in the last nine meetings, the Bulldogs took advantage of a technical assessed against Aces coach Steve Merfeld to seal the victory.

The Bulldogs went just 1-2 against Wisconsin-Milwaukee last season, including an 87-71 loss to the Panthers in the Horizon championship game.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which lost its top three scorers from last year's NCAA tournament team, continues to rebuild. The Panthers lost to Youngstown State, 68-65, in their Horizon League opener on December 10.