Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Mike Green scored 24 points, grabbed eight rebounds, had five steals and dished out four assists to lead the 16th-ranked Butler Bulldogs over the Valparaiso Crusaders, 73-65, at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Matt Howard netted 12 points and hauled in six boards for Butler (13-1, 2-1 Horizon League), which has now won five in a row after losing to Wright State by a point on December 8. The Bulldogs will next play at Loyola-Chicago on Monday.

Jarryd Loyd scored 15 points for Valparaiso (11-4, 2-1), which has dropped three of its last four contests.

Jake Diebler, Brandon McPherson and Samuel Haanpaa each chipped in 10 points, with Haanpaa adding eight rebounds, for the Crusaders, who will host Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Thursday.

Valparaiso held a nine-point cushion with 12:39 remaining in the first half after two Urule Igbavboa free throws.

Butler answered back with Willie Veasley scoring eight straight Bulldog points to pull within 29-28 with just over 2 1/2 minutes to play in the half. Veasley finished the contest with just the eight points.

Green hit a three-pointer to put Butler up two with 1:30 remaining and Loyd tied the game on a layup less than a half a minute later, sending the teams into the break knotted at 31-31.

Green scored 11 of the Bulldogs' first 15 points of the second half, as Butler jumped out to a 46-39 lead midway through the stanza.

Butler opened its biggest lead of the game, 58-45, off a Howard layup with 5:30 left to play.

The Crusaders never got closer than five points and the Bulldogs cruised to victory.