Butler hand’s Rambers their first loss 65-63

Matt Howard and Zach Hahn scored 15 points apiece and Butler held on to defeat Loyola 65-63 in the Horizon League opener for both schools Wednesday night.Hahn made a pair of free throws with 7 seconds left to give Butler a three-point lead. Loyola could only manage a free throw by Courtney Stanley with 3 seconds left.Butler (4-2), the four-time defending Horizon champion who was the national runner-up last season, led 38-28 at halftime before the Ramblers (7-1) rallied, but Loyola never drew even. Shawn Vanzant’s 3-pointer with 3 minutes left gave the Bulldogs a 63-56 lead. Reserve Geoff McCammon scored 14 points to lead Loyola. Andy Polka added 12 points and nine rebounds and Jordan Hicks had 10 points and nine rebounds.The Ramblers are off to their best start since 1962-63, when they began 21-0 and ended the season with the NCAA championship.