CHICAGO, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- A three-pointer by A.J. Graves with 45 seconds left gave Butler the lead Wednesday and the eighth-ranked Bulldogs outlasted Illinois-Chicago 51-46.
Graves scored 14 points and Pete Campbell added 12 for Butler (25-2, 14-2 Horizon League). It was the Bulldogs' ninth straight win.
Illinois-Chicago (14-13, 8-8) was led by 15 points from Josh Mayo and 13 from Jermaine Dailey. The Flames have lost three in a row.
A three-point play by Dailey tied the game with 1:14 remaining, but Butler then took the lead on Graves' key shot. After Scott Vandermeer missed a jumper for the Flames, Mike Green claimed the rebound for Butler and was fouled.
Green missed the front end of a one-and-one chance and Vandermeer rebounded. Mayo missed a three-point try that would have tied it and Graves rebounded. He was fouled with a second left and made two free throws to account for the final score.
