Indiana’s Butler University opened its basketball season on a triumphant note by claiming a 72-65 victory over Missouri State on Monday night. Leading the charge for the Bulldogs was Jahmyl Telfort, who put on an impressive performance by scoring 29 points. Telfort displayed exceptional shooting skills, making 7 of his 12 attempts from the field and hitting 4 out of 6 from beyond the arc. He also showcased his proficiency at the free-throw line, converting 11 of 16 attempts.

Joining Telfort’s scoring efforts was Pierre Brooks, who contributed 13 points by making 3 of 7 field goals and successfully converting 6 out of 7 free throws. Patrick McCaffery also had a solid showing, finishing the game with 11 points, hitting 3 of 9 shots and 3 out of 6 from three-point territory.

On the opposing side, Missouri State’s Dez White led the Bears with a commendable 21 points. His teammates Zaxton King and Jalen Hampton chipped in with 12 and 10 points respectively, while King also notched five assists and Hampton secured six rebounds on the night.

The matchup saw Telfort’s stellar first-half performance, as he accounted for 16 of Butler’s points, allowing the Bulldogs to head into halftime with a narrow 39-36 advantage. A pivotal moment came in the second half when Telfort sank a crucial free throw with just over six minutes remaining, securing a 57-56 lead for Butler that they would hold onto for the remainder of the game.