No. 3 UConn closed the game on a 25-7 run over the final 9:30 of the game to take a 68-46 win over Butler Saturday night Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The game served as the BIG EAST opener for both teams.

UConn remains undefeated at 12-0, while Butler falls to 8-4.
 
KEY STAT: UConn had a 54-30 rebounding edge, including 18-4 on the offensive glass. Fourteen of the 18 offensive rebounds came in the first half.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Adama Sanogo, the BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year, had 27 points and 14 rebounds for UConn. Jordan Hawkins was the only other Husky in double figures with 12 points.
• Manny Bates led Butler with 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting.
• Chuck Harris added 12 points for the Bulldogs.
• Butler held UConn to 39-percent shooting, the second-worst output for the Huskies this season.
• Butler shot a season-worst 30 percent from the field, and made only three of 14 three-point attempts.
• The 22-point final margin was the largest margin of the game.  
• Ali Ali, playing in his first game of the season following a concussion and nasal surgery, scored six points in 13 minutes of action. Jalen Thomas (pulmonary embolism) also saw his first action of the season, playing three minutes.

 
HOW IT TRANSPIRED:

• Six straight points from Butler pulled the Bulldogs within four at 43-39 with 9:43 to play. From that point forward, UConn finished the game on a 25-7 run.

OF NOTE:

• UConn is the highest-ranked opponent to visit Hinkle Fieldhouse since No. 1 Villanova played in Indianapolis Dec. 30, 2017; Butler won that game, 101-93.
• The teams will play again Jan. 22 in Hartford.
• Butler is now 6-5 all-time in its BIG EAST home opener.
• Butler entered the game shooting 50.2 percent from the field, which was 13th nationally.
• Butler was without DJ Hughes (illness), Myles Tate (illness) and John-Michael Mulloy (ankle/foot).

 
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs continue conference play with their first BIG EAST road game of the season, traveling to Creighton Thursday night. The 8 p.m. (Eastern, 7 p.m. Omaha) tip will be broadcast nationally on FS1. The Bluejays were voted as the preseason BIG EAST favorite by the league's head coaches, but have lost six straight games entering Thursday's match-up.