Looking to stay in first and second place, respectively, Valparaiso and Butler each built double-digit wins in victories on Friday night, matching victories by Cleveland State and Wright State from the previous evening.
On ESPNU, Butler (14-6, 6-2 Horizon) fell behind by nine points midway through the first half to Green Bay (10-10, 4-4 Horizon), but closed the half on a 30-16 run and never trailed in the second half of an 81-75 triumph at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Matt Howard had one his finest games in a Bulldogs uniform, recording 29 points and 16 rebounds in leading the way to the win.
Steve Baker got the Phoenix off on the right foot, knocking down 13 of his team-high 20 points in the opening half. His three-pointer with 10:28 to go in the half gave Green Bay an 18-10 lead, but Howard led the way back, scoring 13 points in the final 10 minutes of the half and grabbing nine boards.
Butler built a 20-point lead in the second half, but Green Bay turned the tables down the stretch, closing to within three points at 78-75 as Rahmon Fletcher heated up, scoring 15 of his 20 in the game's final frame. A turnover gave the Phoenix a chance to tie, but Fletcher's attempt to even the contest rimmed out and Butler closed out the game with free throws.
Green Bay will travel up I-65 for a Sunday meeting with Horizon League-leading Valparaiso (15-5, 7-1 Horizon), who held Milwaukee (9-11, 4-5 Horizon) without a field goal for the game's first 13 minutes en route to a 60-43 victory at the Athletics Recreation Center.
The Panthers did not hit their first bucket until 6:14 remained in the first half, by which time the Crusaders had built a 24-7 lead. Playing without the injured Brandon Wood, Valpo came out of the gates and blitzed Milwaukee, with Howard Little keying the start with 12 points. Michael Rogers came off the bench to lead the Crusaders with 14 points.
Matt Kenney and Cory Johnson each added 11 points, while Milwaukee's Tony Meier led all players with 16 points.
Milwaukee will head the opposite direction as Green Bay, heading to Indianapolis for a Sunday contest at Hinkle Fieldhouse in a rematch of the Jan. 3 game won by the Panthers.
