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Clarke’s runner boosts Bulldogs

Butler guard Rotnei Clarke (15) made a 22-foot three-pointer at the buzzer to lead the Bulldogs to a 72-71 victory over Marquette on Monday at the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii. Clarke, a former Arkansas Razorback, made just 4 of 14 three-pointers in the game and finished with 20 points.
Butler guard Rotnei Clarke (15) made a 22-foot three-pointer at the buzzer to lead the Bulldogs to a 72-71 victory over Marquette on Monday at the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii. Clarke, a former Arkansas Razorback, made just 4 of 14 three-pointers in the game and finished with 20 points.

— Butler guard and former Arkansas Razorback Rotnei Clarke reminded Marquette on Monday that it doesn’t matter how many shots you miss - just sink a buzzer-beater on national TV.

Clarke’s 22-foot runner jolted the Bulldogs to a 72-71 victory over Marquette at the start of the Maui invitational in Hawaii, a tournament built on celebrating improbable upsets.

No, this wasn’t the 1982 Chaminade upset over Virginia, but Butler is hoping the intense game kick-starts an early season run.

“I’ve been in this long enough to know that there are very few thrills like a buzzer-beater, especially one off of one foot, running,” Butler Coach Brad Stevens said. “I’ve also been around long enough to know it’s hard to be on the other side.”

Clarke, who played at Arkansas in 2008-2011, hit the improbable basket after the Bulldogs (2-1) drove the length of the court down two points with less than eight seconds left.

Clarke - who made just 4 of 14 three-point attempts for the game - made the shot from the right side and was mobbed on the gym floor by his teammates after it went through.

“It was a scramble play,” said Clarke, who said he thought about passing the ball to a cutting Roosevelt Jones.

“I ended up keeping it, got through and around a couple of guys and luckily it went in,” Clarke said.

Clarke had 20 points, including two three-pointers to tie the game in the first half.

Khyle Marshall had 24 points and nine rebounds for Butler. Vander Blue scored 21 points for the Golden Eagles.

CHAMINADE 86, TEXAS 73

LAHAINA, Hawaii - De’Andre Haskins scored 32 points to lead Division II Chaminade to an upset of Texas, 30 years after the tiny school made its mark on college basketball with its victory over top-ranked Virginia.

The victory was just Chaminade’s seventh at the Maui Invitational since the tournament started in 1984.

TOP 25 MEN NO. 1 INDIANA 66, GEORGIA 53

NEW YORK - Victor Oladipo had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead No. 1 Indiana to a victory over Georgia in the semifinals of the Progressive Legends Classic at the Barclays Center.

Jordan Hulls and Christian Watford both had 14 points for the Hoosiers (4-0) and they were the ones who finally started hitting from long range as Indiana established control of the game.

In other Top 25 games, Leslie McDonald scored 21 points as No. 9 North Carolina routed Mississippi State 95-49 in Lahaina, Hawaii. ... Freshman Brandon Ashley had 20 points and 10 rebounds in his first start, Kevin Parrom hit all five of his three-pointers for 15 points and No. 10 Arizona beat Long Beach State 94-72. ... Markel Starks scored 23 points and Georgetown beat No. 11 UCLA 78-70 in New York. ... Travis Releford had 17 points in No. 12 Kansas’ 78-41 victory over Washington State in Kansas City, Mo.

SEC MEN SOUTH CAROLINA 88, RIDER 76

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina hit a season-high 13 three-pointers to cruise past Rider.

Junior Brenton Williams scored a career-high 22 points, including five three-pointers.

SAINT LOUIS 70, TEXAS A&M 49

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Dwayne Evans matched a career high with 21 points, Mike McCall Jr. added 13 and Saint Louis rolled to a victory over Texas A&M.

Sports, Pages 22 on 11/20/2012

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