Campbell Helps Spark 17-0 Run as Butler Repels ODU

Butler 57, Old Dominion 46

Butler's Mike Green, left, has a shot blocked by Old Dominion's Valdas Vasylius during the first half of a first round NCAA Midwest regional basketball tournament game Thursday in Buffalo, N.Y. (Don Heupel - AP)

BUFFALO, March 15 -- Pete Campbell was out of his zone. He found it in the nick of time.

After missing all three of his shots in the first half Thursday, Campbell found his range midway through the second, hitting three three-pointers to spark a 17-0 run and help fifth-seeded Butler beat 12th-seeded Old Dominion, 57-46, in a first-round NCAA matchup.

The three baskets were the only ones of the game for Campbell, but the first came with the score tied at 32 and the next two followed in a span of just 54 seconds.

"It's huge whenever he goes off for us," said Brandon Crone, who finished with 12 points. "It definitely gives you a lift, but he's done that all year, coming in and hitting big shot after big shot."

It was anybody's game until then. Butler (28-6), trailing 32-29 after Valdas Vasylius hit a three-pointer with 12 minute 22 seconds remaining, tied it with A.J. Graves's three-pointer from the right wing, and then Campbell found his range.

"We just calmed down," said Graves, who led Butler with 18 points. "In the first half, we were rushing our shots. In the second half, we calmed down."

Campbell connected twice to break the tie at 32. He nailed his first three from the right wing at 10:28, then followed with a three from the left wing for a 38-32 lead with 9:34 left.

"When he hit another, we thought, 'Well, let's try again,' " Butler Coach Todd Lickliter joked. "He's a terrific shooter, understands that's his job and probably gets anxious. I thought in the second half he settled down a little bit and we were able to find him."

Campbell made his third three from the left side, missed another, then watched Mike Green make one from the top of the key and follow that with a driving layup to boost the lead to 46-32 with 6:19 left.

Old Dominion (24-9) had won 12 of 13 games, but Butler, ranked in the top 20 for 15 weeks, held the Monarchs scoreless for 7:24 during the decisive run.

The Monarchs featured three senior starters -- Vasylius, Drew Williamson, and Arnaud Dahi -- who put together the winningest four-year class in school history with 93 victories.

On this day, the seniors struggled, going a combined 7 for 28. Brandon Johnson led Old Dominion with 11 points.

The Bulldogs, who set a school record for victories in a season, will meet fourth-seeded Maryland in the second round Saturday.