In a game when Butler's first lead of the game didn't come until the 41^st minute of play, the Bulldogs took an 88-81 double-overtime win over Villanova Saturday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
 
DJ Davis matched his career-high with 28 points and Jahmyl Telfort recorded his first career double-double.
 
With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 14-7 (5-5 BIG EAST). Villanova falls to 11-9 overall and 4-5 in conference play.

Hinkle Fieldhouse was sold out with more than 9,100 in attendance.
 
HOW IT TRANSPIRED:
 

• Butler missed its first 10 attempts from the field as Villanova built an early 11-0 lead over nearly the first seven minutes of the game. Eric Dixon had nine of the Wildcats' first 11 points.
• The Bulldogs would trim the first-half advantage to as few as five (21-16) with 6:13 remaining.
• Villanova shot 57 percent from the field and had 22 points in the paint in taking a 36-27 halftime lead.
• After missing those first 10 shots, Butler made 11 of 16 over the remainder of the first half.
• Butler would cut the lead to six at 43-37 with 11:07 remaining before Villanova responded with a quick 9-3 spurt to re-take a 12-point lead (52-40) with 7:35 to play.
• Dixon's turnaround jumpshot with 1:16 remaining gave Villanova a five-point edge (64-59) before Butler sent the game to an extra session with a Davis three-pointer and Telfort driving dunk with five seconds remaining.
• The 64-64 score at the end of regulation was the first tie of the game.
• Butler's first lead of the game came with 4:08 left in the first overtime after Andre Screen gave the Bulldogs a 66-64 advantage.
• Butler got down by four in the first overtime (72-68) before Butler forced a second overtime with a Davis driving lay-up with five seconds remaining.
• Villanova once again got up by four (78-74) midway through the second overtime before eight straight points from the Bulldogs led to an 82-78 lead with 30 seconds remaining.
• Villanova trimmed the lead to one with a three-pointer, but the Bulldogs got stops and hit six free throws in the closing 23 seconds for the final margin.

 
OF NOTE:

• Butler scored 40 points over the first 31:30 of the game before totaling 48 points over the final 18:30 of the contest.
• All 28 of Davis's points came after halftime. He finished the day 10-for-20 from the field and matched his season-high with five three-pointers.
• Telfort's first career double-double included 22 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. His 22 points were the second-most for him this season.
• Butler made seven of 12 attempts from the field and all 10 of its free throws in the overtime sessions.
• The Bulldogs shot 43 percent from the field despite the slow start.
• Butler went 17-for-22 at the free throw line. Entering the game, Butler ranked seventh nationally in free throw shooting at 78.8 percent. Butler has shot 70 percent or better from the line in all but one game this season.
• Davis went 3-for-4 from the free throw line, which was his first miss Dec. 9 against California. Entering the game, Davis ranked second nationally in free throw percentage (97.0). He is now 34-for-35 in BIG EAST play.
• Butler is now 3-1 in overtime games this season, including a perfect 3-0 at home that features a pair of double-overtime triumphs.
• Butler has 11 games this season scoring 80 or more. Butler hit 80 only six times all of last season.  
• Butler enjoyed a 43-33 rebounding advantage in the game and is 12-0 this season when out-rebounded its opponent
• Butler had only 10 turnovers in the 50 minutes of play. The Bulldogs have committed 10 or fewer turnovers in 12 games.
• Dixon led Villanova with 28 points on 11-for-18 shooting. Tyler Burton had 13 points and 10 rebounds.
• Villanova shot 48 percent from the field.
• The Bulldogs are now 6-5 against Villanova in games played at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
• Butler is 10-2 at Hinkle Fieldhouse so far this season.

 
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs have nearly a week off from competition, leading into a Friday night game at No. 17 Creighton. The game in Omaha will tip at 9 p.m. (Eastern) and air on FS1.