Gordon Hayward scored 18 points, leading five players in double figures, and No. 23 Butler shot 68.8 percent from the field in the second half, pulling away for an 84-67 victory pver Valparaiso.
It was the second straight double-digit win for Butler (6-2, 1-0 Horizon League) since losing two of three games in California last weekend.
The reason for the change in fortunes: Butler reverted to its old-school style.
It shot a season-high 56.8 percent from the field for the game, was 27 of 34 from the free-throw line, forced 15 turnovers and held the nation's No. 15 scorer, Brandon Wood, to just seven points. Wood was averaging 23.0.
The combination prevented the Horizon League's top-scoring team from coming close.
Butler has now won eight straight in the series, 15 in a row over Indiana schools and is 35-2 in its last 37 home games against conference foes.
For Valparaiso (3-5, 0-1), it was downright frustrating.
Cory Johnson led the Crusaders with 17 points and Howard Little had 14. But Wood was scoreless until the 10:02 mark in the second half, and without his help, Valparaiso found itself overmatched.
Although the Crusaders led 23-18 with 6:51 to go in the first half, Butler's shooters were only getting warmed up.
After starting 8 of 18 from the field, Butler used a 13-2 run to take a 31-25 lead with 3:38 left and closed the half by making 6 of 10 from the field to build a 38-32 lead.
The halftime break gave Valparaiso a brief respite.
Hayward opened the second half by converting a three-point play, then driving in for a dunk to make it 43-32.
And when Valpo ran off six straight points to close to 45-40, Willie Veasley answered with a back-to-back 3s, starting a 10-0 run that gave Butler a 55-40 lead with 14 minutes to go.
The Crusaders didn't get closer than 13 the rest of the way.
Butler's Matt Howard, last season's conference player of the year, finished with 16 points and five rebounds. Veasley added 15 points and five rebounds and Shelvin Mack had 11 points for the Bulldogs, who played their first home game since Nov. 14.
