Spencer’s clutch three helps Huskies survive Bulldogs
INDIANAPOLIS – Up by four with 47 seconds left in a sold-out Hinkle Fieldhouse, Cam Spencer dribbled around the perimeter and pulled up from the top of the key. His shot fell through the rim with grace, nothing but net, and extended UConn’s lead over Butler to seven.
The Bulldogs answered with a 3-pointer of their own, but Hassan Diarra and Tristen Newton sealed the game at the free throw line. UConn (12-2, 3-1 Big East) survived a sloppy performance to beat Butler on the road, 88-81, on Friday.
“That was one of the clutchest shots I’ve seen,” said Alex Karaban, who scored 15 of his team-high 20 points in the second half and had to watch from the bench after fouling out in the final two minutes.
Butler, leading for nearly 22 minutes in the game, which featured five ties and 11 lead changes, cut UConn’s seven-point lead to just one with under four minutes left after a threepoint play from D.J. Davis and a 3-pointer from former St. John’s guard Posh Alexander. After Alexander’s shot fell, the crowd roaring on its feet, Karaban put his head down and drove to the basket for a layup, later adding a pair of free throws to get some breathing room on the scoreboard.
UConn’s lead was just four when Hassan Diarra (nine points) attempted a step-back 3-pointer with a minute left. His shot missed but Spencer out hustled everyone for the offensive rebound. Falling out of bounds, the fifth-year veteran had the presence of mind to call a timeout to set up his shot, which eventually served as the dagger.
It marks the Huskies’ first true road win of the season and the program’s eighth straight win in the all-time series with the Bulldogs (10-5, 1-3 Big East).
Spencer finished with 14 points (6 of 11), four rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block, while Stephon Castle, who played in several different roles as players were juggled around with foul trouble, had 14 with nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. Newton struggled from the field but had 17 points, 10 from 13 attempts at the free throw line.
“That’s an NCAA-caliber team right there,” head coach Dan Hurley said after the game, expressing his respect for what Butler coach Thad Matta has built after completely reshaping his roster this offseason. “They’re one of the toughest teams to guard that we’ve played this year.”
Butler’s offense, second highest-scoring in the Big East behind UConn, was potent on Friday. The Bulldogs shot 25 of 53 from the field and 8 of 17 from deep, making 23 of 25 from the foul stripe. But their defense, especially in the first half, played the bigger role in keeping the game close.
UConn turned the ball over nine times in the first 20 minutes and allowed 13 points off those turnovers. The Huskies faced a 42-35 deficit at halftime.