The Butler University men’s basketball team suffered a 76-64 loss against Pittsburgh on Friday at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
This defeat marked a significant shift for the program, as the school’s mascot tradition of never losing when a new English bulldog makes its debut has ended, according to Yahoo Sports.
The Bulldogs are now 3-1 in games featuring the first appearance of a new canine mascot, as noted by the IndyStar.
Butler initially appeared poised to maintain its perfect home record after a strong start against the Panthers.
The team executed a 9-2 run to begin the game and maintained a defensive intensity that limited Pittsburgh to 20% shooting during the first five minutes, per USA Today Sports.
Butler shot 50% from the field in the first half for the third time this season and forced seven steals to build a 42-34 lead by halftime.
Head coach Ronald Nored expressed satisfaction with the team’s initial defensive effort, which served as a response to a previous setback against Boise State, as reported by IndyStar.
Reflecting on the defensive tone, Nored stated, “I was really proud of how we came out defensively, how we fought and how we set a tone.”
Despite the early momentum, the team struggled to maintain its offensive rhythm during the second half of the contest.
Addressing the team’s performance, Nored noted, “The other part we were focused on was reestablishing some habits on both ends of the floor, and unfortunately, there in the second half, just our offense wasn’t crisp.”
The game served as the public introduction for the school’s newest mascot, Blue V, who was recently acquired by the university, according to local coverage.
Butler now looks to adjust its strategy following the home loss to the Panthers.