Butler tops Saint Joseph’s
by Jon Marks, Special to USA TODAY Sports
PHILADELPHIA — No. 17 Butler’s Atlantic 10 Conference debut will not go down as any work of art. But after surrendering eight first half 3-pointers, Brad Stevens’ Bulldogs dug in defensively, holding upset-minded Saint Joseph’s without a field goal over a nine-minute span, and getting clutch efforts from Rotnei Clarke and Andrew Smith to escape with a 72-66 decision.
Clarke led the way for Butler (13-2) with 28 points, while Smith added 25, as Butler overcame a sluggish start to win its ninth in a row. Chris Wilson poured in 15 for the Hawks (8-5) — all during a torrid first half in which he knocked down four three-pointers in the first five minutes. C.J. Aiken and Ronald Roberts chipped in with 13 and 12, respectively, and Roberts blocked four shots.
Trailing 40-35 at halftime largely due to SJU’s 8-for-13 shooting from three-point range, Butler stormed out of locker room on a 9-0 run to start the second half. After Clarke’s three-pointer tied it, layups by Smith and Alex Barlow put the Bulldogs on top, 44-40, with 17 minutes 51 seconds left.
But back-to-back threes by Aiken brought the Hawks even at 46-46. Saint Joseph’s didn’t stop there as Langston Galloway’s jumper and a three-point play by Roberts restored a 51-46 advantage.
With a sold out crowd urging them to go for the kill, the Hawks were unable to deliver. Butler tightened the screws defensively, holding Saint Joseph’s without a field goal over the next 9:05. Points were tough to come by for the Bulldogs too, before Roosevelt Jones drove for two, then Clarke drilled a three-pointer to put Butler up, 57-56. Baskets by Jones and Clarke gave Butler its biggest lead, 61-56.
Saint Joseph’s refused to go away, twice drawing within a basket in the closing minutes. But Butler responded each time, Smith sinking to free throws to make it 70-66 with two minutes remaining. The Hawks launched a succession of three-point attempts but came up empty before Clarke’s free throws with 2.0 seconds left iced it.
The Hawks came out blazing from three-point range, draining five in the first five minutes — four by … [For more on No. 17 Butler tops Saint Joseph's in Atlantic 10 debut, click here.]
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