INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The No. 18 Butler Bulldogs took a 20-point lead in the opening 12 minutes and went on to a 93-66 win over the VMI Keydets in non-conference basketball action Monday night at Hinkel Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. Julian Eleby led the Keydets with 21 points, but VMI (3-5) was held to just three bench points and Butler (7-1) shot 54.5% from the floor en route to the victory.

The homestanding Bulldogs led 39-19 at the 8:12 mark of the first half, and although the Keydets played Butler within seven points the rest of the way, they could not overcome the home team's quick start.

In addition to Eleby, VMI saw QJ Peterson finish with 17 points and Trey Chapman add 15. Kelan Martin led Butler with 20 points on 8 of 10 shooting.

Butler's 39-19 game-opening run was fueled by an impressive effort on the offensive glass. Over the first 11:42 - the length of the run - the Bulldogs had just two missed shots on which they did not grab an offensive board. When former NCAA Tournament star Roosevelt Jones converted a three-point play with 8:12 left in the half, it was 39-19, BU.

That margin grew to 30 late in the half before VMI scored six of the final eight points of the period. The Bulldogs did stretch the lead to a game-high 35 early in the second half, but the second half was much closer in all. The Keydets held Butler, the second-highest scoring team in the land, to 36 points - and scored 35 of their own - but it was not enough to overcome the early deficit.

All told, Butler hit 36 of 66 (54.5%) from the floor and 10 of 21 (47.6%) from long range. The Bulldogs held the Keydets to 37.1% from the field (23 of 62) and 9 of 27 from three-point range. The Keydets, who came into the game fifth in Division I in free throw percentage, were also an uncharacteristic 11 of 16 (68.8%) from the charity stripe.

VMI basketball will return to action Saturday, when the Keydets play host to Navy at Cameron Hall. Game time is set for 1 p.m.