Butler ‘punked’ by Saint Louis

Friday, February 1, 2013

— Up 17 points late in the first half, Saint Louis only intensified the pressure. Never a time to let up against No. 9 Butler.

“We were just thinking ‘Step on it. Make the lead go bigger,’ ” guard Jordair Jett said. “That’s how we play.”

Jett matched his career best with 19 points in 23 minutes, but the reserve realized the school’s biggest upset in nine years was decided on the other end of the court. Butler was hounded into a season-worst 23 turnovers in Saint Louis’ 75-58 victory Thursday night that ended with fans storming the court to celebrate.

“The guys really work on deflections and things like that,” said center Rob Loe, who had 12 points. “We heard before the game that Butler hadn’t really been pressured too much, and we wanted to get them out of their comfort zone.”

Butler Coach Brad Stevens had only admiration for the way his team was manhandled.

“I absolutely loved the way they moved the ball,” Stevens said. “It was an absolute joy to watch one team play. The problem was, it wasn’t the team I coached.”

Dwayne Evans added 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting for the Billikens (15-5, 4-2 Atlantic-10), who fed off just the fourth sellout at 5-yearold Chaifetz Arena and led by at least 10 most of the game. Saint Louis shot 50 percent and the 17-point lead was the school’s best-ever against a ranked opponent.

Former Arkansas Razorback Rotnei Clarke had 17 points for Butler (17-4, 4-2) but also had six turnovers. Andrew Smith added 12 points and six rebounds for the Bulldogs, who have lost four games this season, three by 15 or more points.

“We pretty much got punked,” Clarke said. “End of story. There’s not really much to say about it. We got outclassed and we got punked.”

Butler is the highest ranked opponent to play at Saint Louis, led by interim coach Jim Crews with a roster assembled by the late Rick Majerus, since No. 2 North Carolina in 2006-2007. The Bulldogs are Saint Louis’ biggest victim since a one-point upset over No. 2 Louisville on Feb. 12, 2003 at the Scottrade Center.

“Everyone was just focused. ‘Let’s not waste a possession,’ ” Crews said. “I think our guys did a nice job of sustaining that mentality.”

Jett, who was 8 for 12 with two three-pointers, also scored 19 points against Villanova on Nov. 25, 2011.

Saint Louis leads the conference in scoring defense, allowing 57.8 points.

After Clarke, the other four Butler starters totaled 21 points. Khyle Marshall was held to two points and played just 10 minutes due to foul woes.

NO. 8 ARIZONA 57, WASHINGTON 53

SEATTLE - Nick Johnson scored 15 points, five in the final two minutes, and No. 8 Arizona rallied from an early deficit to beat Washington, snapping a three game losing streak to the Huskies.

Mark Lyons and Solomon Hill each added 10 points for the Wildcats, who won their second consecutive after losing at home to UCLA.

Arizona trailed 48-46 with 4:34 left after C.J. Wilcox hit Washington’s first three-pointer of the game. The Wildcats (18-2, 6-2 Pacific-12) then closed on an 11-5 run.

Wilcox and Scott Suggs each scored 11 points to lead Washington (12-9, 4-4), which has lost four consecutive for the first time since 2008.

The Huskies, who finished 1 of 12 on three-pointers, committed 17 turnovers.

NO. 13 MICHIGAN STATE 80, ILLINOIS 75

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Keith Appling led a pivotal run early in the second half and finished with 24 points and seven assists to lead No. 13 Michigan State past Illinois.

The Spartans (18-4, 7-2 Big Ten) scored the first 14 points of the second half to take their first lead.

The Fighting Illini (15-7, 2-6), who were ranked as high as 10th, lost for the fifth time in six games.

Freshmen Gary Harris and Denzel Valentine both scored 14 points, Braden Dawson had 12 points and nine rebounds and Adreian Payne added eight points.

Tracy Abrams scored 16 points for Illinois while D.J. Richardson had 14, Brandon Paul 13 and reserve Myke Henry 11.

Sports, Pages 24 on 02/01/2013