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GAME NOTES: Owners of a 17-game winning streak, the 15th-ranked Butler Bulldogs will attempt to complete a perfect Horizon League campaign in tonight's regular-season finale against the Valparaiso Crusaders.

Butler hasn't lost a game in over two months, and the club's 25-4 overall record is stellar. Last Saturday, the Bulldogs took a break from league play to take on MAAC foe Siena, and the result of that tilt was a rather easy 70-53 triumph. They carry a 17-0 Horizon League record into tonight's affair and have already beaten Valparaiso once this season, 84-67.

Speaking of the Crusaders, they had a modest two-game win streak halted last Saturday with an 87-70 loss to Bowling Green on the road. This game marks the regular-season finale for Valparaiso as well, and the team is 10-7 in league play, good for fourth place currently. The club is 15-15 overall, including 9-2 in front of the home crowd.

In regard to the all-time series between these two teams, Butler owns a 65-32 advantage.

Gordon Hayward continues to lead Butler in scoring this season with 15.8 ppg, and he is also ripping down 8.5 rpg to pace the club on the boards. Shelvin Mack checks in with 13.9 ppg, and Matt Howard provides 11.9 ppg. As for Willie Veasley, he rounds out a foursome of double-digit scorers with 10.0 ppg. Unfortunately, Veasley missed the last game with a knee sprain, and it is unclear if he will be able to play against Valparaiso. Without the services of Veasley last weekend, Butler didn't miss a beat, shooting 52.1 percent from the field while holding Siena to 33.9 percent. Mack had 23 points in that affair, while Hayward posted 15 points and 12 boards.

Brandon Wood is scoring 17.9 ppg to lead Valparaiso, and Cory Johnson brings 14.9 ppg to the lineup on the strength of his 55.7 percent shooting from the field. Brandon McPherson, a 42.7 percent shooter from three-point range, checks in with 11.7 ppg, and the Crusaders are generating 73.1 ppg while allowing 73.8 ppg to opponents. In the recent loss to Bowling Green, Valpo committed 18 costly turnovers and was outscored 24-12 from the foul line. A 52-38 deficit in points in the paint clearly hurt the cause for the Crusaders, who got 16 points and seven assists from McPherson. Matt Kenney and Howard Little added 11 points apiece.

There is no reason to believe that Butler will lose tonight, as the Bulldogs are focused on completing the perfect Horizon League season.