OVA FOR ’NOVA
Sharpshooting Butler does it again - deals No. 1 Wildcats their first defeat
Villanova’s perfect season is over and its reign at No. 1 probably is, too.
Kelan Martin scored 24 points and Paul Jorgensen had a careerhigh 23 to help Butler upset the previously unbeaten Wildcats 101-93 on Saturday in Indianapolis.
It’s the second straight year the Bulldogs (12-3, 2-0 Big East) have ended Villanova’s perfect start.
Jalen Brunson had 31 points and Mikal Bridges finished with 21 to help Villanova (13-1, 1-1) cut a 23point deficit to six with 1:33 left. But Brunson missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with a chance to make it a four-point game and the comeback bid fell short.
Afterward, Butler students stormed the court — even after the public address announcer instructed them to wait until players had left the court.
Villanova had won 10 of its 13 games by 14 or more points and had allowed 65.8 points per game.
But the Bulldogs made seven 3pointers in the final 7 minutes of the first half to take a 53-45 lead then made all five of their 3s in the second half to finish 15 of 22 on treys. And when the Wildcats at- tempted to defend the arc, Butler took advantage of the open lanes with a bevy of layups and dunks.
Arizona 84, Arizona State 78
Deandre Ayton had 23 points and 19 rebounds, including a crucial tip-in with 11 seconds to go, and No. 17 Arizona held on to hand No. 3 Arizona State its first loss of the season.
Duke 100, Florida St. 93
In Durham, N.C., Freshman Marvin Bagley III had 32 points and a season-best 21 rebounds, and No. 4 Duke (13-1, 1-1 ACC) pulled away to beat No. 24 Florida State (11-2, 0-1).
Alabama 79, Texas A&M 57
In Tuscaloosa, Ala., John Petty made five 3-pointers and scored 18 points, Donta Hall had 17 points and six rebounds, and Alabama (9-4, 1-0 SEC) knocked off No. 5 Texas A&M (11-2), which had matched its highest ranking in the AP poll this week.
Xavier 77, DePaul 72
In Cincinnati, J.P. Macura scored 19 points, with a steal and a blocked shot in the final minute, and No. 6 Xavier (14-1, 2-0 Big East) rallied from a 16-point deficit to defeat DePaul (7-7, 0-2).
Virginia 59, Boston College 58
In Charlottesville, Va., Ty Jerome scored a career-high 31 points, including two free throws with 53 seconds left, and No. 9 Virginia (12-1, 1-0 ACC) held off Boston College (10-4, 1-1).
Oklahoma 90, TCU 89
In Fort Worth, Texas, freshman Trae Young scored 39 points, including the tiebreaking free throws with 7.9 seconds left, and No. 12 Oklahoma (11-1, 1-0 Big 12) overcame a 13-point deficit in the second half to beat No. 10 TCU (12-1, 0-1), ending the Horned Frogs’ winning streak, which was the nation’s longest, at 17 games.
Wichita St. 72, Connecticut 62
In Hartford, Conn., Landry Shamet scored 16 points to lead No. 8 Wichita State (11-2, 1-0 AAC) over Connecticut (7-6, 0-1).
North Carolina 73, Wake Forest 69
In Chapel Hill, N.C., Joel Berry II finished with 16 points and hit a high-arcing floater in the paint with 10.3 seconds left to lift No. 13 North Carolina (12-2, 1-0 ACC) past Wake Forest (7-6, 0-1).
Purdue 98, Lipscomb 66
In West Lafayette, Ind., Vincent Edwards had 23 points and 15 rebounds, Isaac Haas added 19 points and seven rebounds and No. 14 Purdue (13-2) routed Lipscomb (9-5).
Miami 67, Pittsburgh 53
In Pittsburgh, Ja’Quan Newton scored 13 points, Anthony Lawrence II added 12 and 15th-ranked Miami (12-1, 1-0 ACC) had little trouble with Pittsburgh (8-6, 0-1).
Arkansas 95, Tennessee 93 (OT)
In Fayetteville, Ark., Daryl Macon (33) and Jaylen Barford combined for 61 points and Arkansas (11-2, 1-0 SEC) rallied from a ninepoint second-half deficit for an overtime victory over No. 19 Tennessee (9-3, 0-1).
Gonzaga 101 Santa Clara 52
In Spokane, Wash., Silas Melson scored 19 points, Josh Perkins had 12 points and eight assists, and No. 20 Gonzaga (12-3, 2-0 WCC) cruised by Santa Clara (4-10, 1-1) for its 16th straight win in the series.