INDIANAPOLIS - Playing without Rion Rayfield, their top returning scorer, the Moccasins held their own with Division I Butler for more than a half before the Bulldogs pulled away and posted a 90-70 exhibition win over the Moccasins Saturday in front of a crowd of 5,544 here at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Rayfield, who averaged 15.3 points last season, has been slowed by foot and ankle injuries and coach Linc Darner elected to not play him against Butler. Damon Ellison took Rayfield's place in the Mocs' starting lineup, joining Brandon and Terry Jenkins, Andre Hawkins and Cameron Wooten.
Butler returns three starters from last season's 33-5 team that lost to Duke by two points in the NCAA national championship game and is ranked 17th in the AP preseason poll.
The Moccasins had brief early leads at 6-5, 8-5 and 8-7 and were tied at 10-10 at the first media timeout. They trailed by just eight, 45-37, at halftime and were down only 52-45 in early stages of the second half before the Bulldogs went on a 19-4 run that pushed their advantage to 71-49 with 10:37 left in the game. FSC was unable to get closer than 17 points the rest of the way.
Brandon Jenkins and Hawkins led the Moccasins with 16 points each, while Terry Jenkins added 13. Hawkins went 5-5 from the field and was 6-7 from the free throw line. Jay Hubble, one of six Indiana players on the FSC roster, tossed in eight points off the bench. Matt Howard led Butler with 19 points and seven rebounds. Brandon Jenkins was the Mocs' top rebounder with seven.
The Bulldogs out-rebounded the Moccasins 41-35 and were able to score 20 of their points off 15 FSC turnovers.
The Moccasins play their second exhibition game Monday night at 8 p.m. at College Park, Md., against the Maryland Terrapins. Maryland-area FSC fans and alums are invited to a reception Monday night at 6 p.m. prior to the game at the Hard Times Cafe, 4738 Cherry Hill Road in College Park.
