Butler guard Carter Trumbore had 34 points in the Bears 49-43 victory on Monday night in Lincoln. Trumbore hit seven shots with a hand in his face as Chase Young and Dawson Parrott did all they could do to stop the All- State sharp shooter.
Butler led 15-13 after one but trailed 25-24 at the half.
Lincoln's Brayden Benham had a third quarter controversial put back at the buzzer. It appeared late but Lincoln got the call. It was 40-34 as Lincoln looked to pull away.
Lincoln was 8 for 15 from the line and it cost them as Trumbore had nine fourth quarter points to lead the Bears to victory. Lincoln made the score look worse in a desperate come back attempt as they fouled with 4.4 seconds to go as Butler made their free throws to ice the game.
Lincoln was missing both athletic sophomores Riley Sanders and Anthony Srader as they were against Warsaw. Sanders has yet to play this season.
Lincoln Coach Tyler Burke commented, "I thought we played hard and it was our best three quarters of basketball so far this season. We are young and we are not about excuses. We missed Riley and Bug but we are confident with the group that we have on the floor."
He added, "We guarded their All-State player well at times but lost him on screens and in transition.We were asking kids to do things they have never done before."
LINCOLN (43): Smith, 12,; Eckhoff, 8; Cole, 2; Everhart, 6; Young, 5; Dawson, 6; Benham, 4.
BUTLER (49): Trumbore, 34; Chandler, 5; Davidson, 8; Hammett, 2.
