Huskies Hold On For 46-40 Win Over Villanova

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HARTFORD, CT (February 11, 2002) - Sophomore All-America candidate Caron Butler (Racine, WI) notched his third straight double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds as Connecticut defeated Villanova, 46-40, Monday night before a sellout crowd of 16,294 at the Hartford Civic Center.

The victory improves the Huskies record to 16-6, 8-3 in the BIG EAST.  The Wildcats slip to 13-9, 4-7 in the conference. 

Both teams struggled offensively in the first half, as UConn's Ben Gordon's (Fr., Mt. Vernon, NY) fast break dunk with 11:31 to play in the first half were the only points scored in over nine minutes. The Wildcats opened up an 18-12 lead on a three-pointer by Derrick Snowden with 4:31 to play in the first half before UConn finished the half on an 8-3 run to inch within one, 21-20, at intermission.  UConn, playing without injured starting power forward Johnnie Selvie (Sr., Flint, MI), held Villanova to just 35 percent shooting in the first half and forced nine Wildcat turnovers.

The Huskies began to assert themselves with an 8-0 run in the second half, capped by a lay-up by Butler. The basket gave UConn its biggest lead of the game, 35-28.  Villanova rallied to within two points on two occasions, but could get no closer.

The combined 86 points was the second lowest in BIG EAST Conference history.  Villanova finished the game shooting just 26 percent (13-of-50).

Joining Butler in double figures was Gordon, who scored 12, in only the second start of his collegiate career.  Andrew Sullivan, Brooks Sales and Gary Buchanan all had nine points for the Wildcats. 

The Huskies complete the Hartford Civic Center portion of their 2001-02 home schedule when they play host to Boston College at noon on Saturday, Feb. 16.