INDIANAPOLIS — Stevie Mitchell played a pivotal role for No. 9 Marquette, scoring 10 of his personal best 22 points during a crucial five-minute period in the second half. This performance enabled Marquette to surpass Butler with a final score of 78-69 on Tuesday evening.

Mitchell showcased an impressive shooting display, going 9 for 14 from the field, while also contributing five rebounds to the team’s effort. The Golden Eagles improved their record to 18-3 overall and 9-1 in the Big East, marking their third consecutive victory. This win keeps them tied with No. 15 St. John’s at the top of the conference standings, even with Kam Jones, their top scorer, sidelined for nearly ten minutes due to foul trouble. Jones finished the game with 17 points.

For Butler, Jahmyl Telfort stood out with 24 points, and Patrick McCaffery added 12 points to the tally. However, the Bulldogs, sitting at 9-12 overall and 2-8 in conference play, experienced their 10th loss in the last 12 games.

The Bulldogs maintained control throughout much of the first half, leading 42-35 at halftime. Jones was instrumental in helping Marquette regain the lead early in the second half, but after he picked up his fourth foul with 13:32 left in the game, it was Mitchell who stepped up. He ignited a 12-3 run for Marquette, scoring seven points during that stretch to push the score to 61-52 with 9:37 remaining. He capped off his performance with another three-pointer, bringing the score to 64-54.

**Key Takeaways**
Marquette demonstrated remarkable resilience when Jones was forced to sit on the bench, suggesting that this team may have the fortitude necessary for a deep postseason run.
For Butler, the Bulldogs seemed poised to inch closer to the .500 mark after a few encouraging outings, but their second half collapse signifies a setback in their recovery.

**Key Moment**
With Jones off the floor, Marquette intensified their defense and managed to stifle Butler’s scoring, allowing no baskets for nearly five minutes.

**Key Statistic**
In the first half, Butler excelled with a 5 of 10 performance from beyond the arc but struggled significantly in the second half, hitting only 1 of 12 three-point attempts.

**Looking Ahead**
Marquette is set to host No. 25 Connecticut, the reigning two-time national champions, in Milwaukee on Saturday, while Butler aims to bounce back as they face Georgetown on Friday.