Dec 21, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Connecticut Huskies ahead Alex Karaban (11) celebrates after a play in the course of the first half towards the Butler Bulldogs at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Obligatory Credit score: Robert Goddin-Imagn Photographs Alex Karaban scored 21 and Liam McNeeley added 17 to assist No. 11 UConn keep away from the upset on the street at Butler 78-74 on Saturday in Indianapolis.
The Huskies (10-3) gained their sixth straight.
The Bulldogs (7-6) bought inside two within the remaining minutes, however two consecutive 3-pointers from Karaban gave UConn five-point edge, 74-69, with 59 seconds to play.
The Huskies then knocked down all 4 of their free throws — two by Hassan Diarra with 15 seconds left and two by McNeely with 6 seconds remaining — to ice the sport.
Butler battled again from down 16 factors to tie the sport late within the second half. The Bulldogs had been inside two with 8 seconds to play.
Andre Display screen led Butler with a career-high 17 factors with 10 rebounds. Patrick McCaffery additionally scored 17 whereas Pierre Brooks II added 13.
Connecticut stormed forward early, partly because of the Bulldogs’ Jahmyl Telfort lacking his first six photographs from the ground earlier than being benched.
Butler bounced again, although, bringing its deficit down to 6 as UConn went on a stretch of lacking 6 of seven from the ground.
Telfort then got here off the bench and scored 5, together with a 3-pointer to convey Butler inside three late within the first half.
The Huskies then closed the half robust, happening a 6-0 run whereas the Bulldogs missed 7 of 8 photographs. UConn led 42-33 on the break.
UConn shot precisely 50 p.c from the ground within the half (16 of 32), together with 6 of 11 from deep. Butler stayed in it by committing only one turnover, a class that has given the Bulldogs hassle this season.
Within the second half, Butler bought knocked down and bought proper again up a number of instances.
The Bulldogs went on a 9-0 run to convey themselves inside 5 at 51-46. The Huskies responded and bumped it again to double-digits, however Butler did not give up.
A separate 8-0 run from Butler tied the sport at 63 with 4:43 left in regulation.
UConn stays undefeated towards Butler in program historical past, enhancing to 10-0 with all 10 matchups going down since 2011.
–Area Stage Media
