INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Chicago State men's basketball team showed strong offensive balance and resilience in a hard-fought matchup Tuesday night, falling 98–66 to Butler inside historic Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Marcus Tankersley scored 24 points and collected four rebounds while adding two steals. CJ Ray contributed 12 points, converting five of eight field goal attempts, including two 3-pointers. Malek Robinson recorded four points and matched his defensive effort with two steals. Braelon Bush chipped in six points and shared two steals, complementing his defensive play.

Chicago State initiated the first half with Braelon Bush connecting on a 3-pointer to tie the score at 3 early on. Despite a challenging start, the team made progress with contributions from Tankersley, who delivered a jumper in the paint, and Deshawn Jean-Charles, who sank two free throws to keep momentum alive. However, Butler's shooting from beyond the arc was prolific, with Finley Bizjack and Jamie Kaiser, Jr. hitting multiple 3-pointers to widen the gap. The Cougars' efforts were bolstered by CJ Ray's fast-break 3-pointer off an assist from Bush, narrowing the margin momentarily. As the half progressed, Chicago State's attempts to cut into Butler's advantage saw some success with a late layup from Lionel Larvadain. Despite these efforts, the half concluded with Butler ahead, leading 57-30.
 
Chicago State opened the second half with a focus on interior scoring, accumulating 26 points in the paint. Tankersley contributed significantly with key layups and a fast-break score at 15:21. Despite this effort, the team struggled to contain Butler's perimeter shooting. Defensively, the Cougars capitalized on turnovers, with Robinson and Tankersley each registering steals that led to points. However, Butler maintained offensive pressure, extending their lead with consistent scoring. The half concluded with Chicago State trailing 98–66.
 
Looking ahead, Chicago State is set to host UIC on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. The matchup will take place at the Jones Convocation Center in Chicago, Illinois.