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Howard provides scoring punch as Butler tops Youngstown St.

Jan 20, 2008 - 6:23 AM YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (Ticker) -- Freshman Matt Howard provided Butler with the offense needed for a rebound.

Howard scored 14 of his 20 points in the first half as 12th-ranked Butler cruised to a easy 78-69 victory over Youngstown State in the Horizon League on Saturday.

Pete Campbell had 19 points and Mike Green added 16 for the Bulldogs (17-2, 6-2 Horizon), who shot 49 percent (27-of-55) in recording their highest point total in seven games.

It was a lack of offense that had doomed Butler in its two losses this season, including a 56-52 setback at Cleveland State on Thursday.

In that contest, the Bulldogs went 34 percent (18-of-53) from the field, including 6-of-23 on 3-pointers.

Butler came out on fire in this one behind Howard, who went 6-of-8 from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.

The forward started a 19-2 run midway through the opening half with a jumper, and scored eight points in the burst, including the capping layup for a 28-13 advantage with 7:40 left.

Campbell added 11 of his total in the first half, as the Bulldogs went on to hold a 40-22 cushion at intermission.

The Penguins (7-11, 3-5) managed to close within 42-33 in the opening minutes of the second half behind an 11-2 run, but the Bulldogs had no problem responding.

Drew Streicher and Julian Betko both hit a 3-pointer during a 10-4 spurt that made it 52-37 with 14:12 remaining.

Youngstown State got no closer than eight points thereafter in losing for the fourth time in five games.

Howard finished 9-of-14 and grabbed eight rebounds. Green also had eight boards and handed out 10 assists.

One player that did not bounce back from the poor effort against Cleveland State was second-leading scorer A.J. Graves, who went 3-of-11 en route to nine points.

A Wooden Award candidate at the start of the season, Graves has gone in and out of shooting slumps this season. Over his last two games, the senior guard has managed just 14 points on 5-of-22 shooting.

Jack Liles had a career-high 21 points for the Penguins, who lost to the Bulldogs for the 13th time in 14 games despite shooting 51 percent (26-of-51), including 5-of-15 on 3-pointers.

Byron Davis scored 16 points and John Barber added 15 and eight rebounds for Youngstown State.