WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (Interstat) — In a neutral-site clash of undefeated teams, the Butler Bulldogs built a substantial first-half lead and withstood a fierce second-half rally from the South Carolina Gamecocks to secure a 79-72 victory in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday afternoon at the Greenbrier Resort.

A crowd of 1,209 saw Butler improve to 4-1 on the young season, while South Carolina suffered its first loss, also falling to 4-1.

The Bulldogs seized control early, using a 7-0 run to establish a lead they would not relinquish. The first half was defined by Butler’s dominance on the glass and South Carolina’s offensive struggles. The Bulldogs outrebounded the Gamecocks and capitalized on second-chance opportunities, while South Carolina connected on just 7 of 26 attempts from three-point range for the game.

Butler took a 38-31 advantage into halftime, a margin that could have been larger if not for a late first-half layup from South Carolina’s Meechie Johnson, who led all scorers with 24 points.

The Gamecocks emerged from the break with renewed energy, methodically chipping away at the deficit. A driving layup from Johnson with just over 12 minutes remaining capped a South Carolina surge that cut the Butler lead to a single point.

However, the Bulldogs responded with key plays to stem the tide. A critical dunk from Michael Ajayi and a three-pointer from Finley Bizjack helped Butler rebuild a cushion. Every time South Carolina threatened down the stretch, the Bulldogs had an answer, often from the free-throw line where they attempted 34 shots compared to South Carolina’s 22.

Butler’s victory was a product of efficient, albeit not always pretty, offense. The Bulldogs scored 79 points on 71 possessions, translating to an offensive rating of 111.0. South Carolina, by contrast, managed 72 points on 72 possessions for an offensive rating of 99.4. Butler’s ability to generate extra chances was pivotal, as they corralled 11 offensive rebounds to South Carolina’s seven.

Ajayi was a force for Butler, recording a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 14 rebounds to go with three assists and two blocks. His presence inside was felt on both ends of the floor. Bizjack led the Bulldogs in scoring with 18 points, including three shots from beyond the arc, and added three assists.

Jamie Kaiser provided a vital spark for Butler with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Jalen Jackson chipped in 10 points and five boards. Drayton Jones contributed eight points and six rebounds in a strong supporting role.

For South Carolina, Johnson’s 24-point effort was complemented by 13 points from Mike Sharavjamts, who also grabbed six rebounds. Eli Ellis added 13 points, and Kobe Knox filled the stat sheet with seven points, five rebounds and four assists.

The game was a tale of two halves, with South Carolina matching Butler’s second-half output of 41 points. But the early hole, dug by poor shooting and Butler’s rebounding edge, proved too deep for the Gamecocks to escape entirely.

The Bulldogs now look ahead to another neutral-court test against Virginia on Sunday, also at the Greenbrier Resort. South Carolina will seek to rebound on Sunday against Northwestern at the same venue.