No. 4 UConn used a large second half to take an 88-81 win over Butler Friday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
 
After Butler took a 42-35 halftime lead, the Huskies responded with 53 points in the second half.
 
The Bulldogs are now 10-5 (1-3 BIG EAST play), while UConn improves to 13-2 (3-1).
 
COACH THAD MATTA: "We're close; we're just not there yet. We're getting our guys to understand that nothing stays the same. First half, it's going to be a completely different second half. We came out and got stunned in the second half. Turnovers, miscommunications defensively. As we're making adjustments, they are making adjustments…and we just couldn't get it back over the hump there. We have to keep grinding."
 
HOW IT TRANSPIRED:
 

• Butler's 9-0 run featured five points from DJ Davis as the Bulldogs turned a one-point deficit into a 31-23 lead with 6:34 remaining in the first half.
• The Bulldogs shot 48 percent and forced nine UConn turnovers in the first half to take a 42-35 halftime advantage.
• Butler's last lead of the game ended up being 55-54 with 11:24 remaining in the game.
• A stretch where UConn made seven of eight attempts from the field gave the Huskies a 67-60 advantage with 7:13 to play.
• A Posh Alexander three-pointer with 3:45 remaining cut the lead to a single point at 75-74, but the next five points belonged to the Huskies.
• The play of the game came with 1:05 on the clock as UConn's Cam Spencer grabbed an offensive rebound to prolong the Huskies' possession. After a timeout, Spencer then hit a three-pointer as the shot clock expired with 47 seconds remaining to put the game out of reach at 83-76.

OF NOTE:

• The game served as Butler's first home loss of the season. The Bulldogs are now 8-1 at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
• DJ Davis scored a game-high 22 points, which included 4-for-8 shooting from three-point range. It marked his third consecutive (and fourth overall) 20-point scoring output of the season. 
• Pierre Brooks II and Jahmyl Telfort had 19 and 16 points, respectively.
• The Bulldogs went 23-for-25 from the free throw line. Entering the game, the Bulldogs were shooting 77.2 percent from the line, which ranked 20th nationally.
• UConn shot 63 percent in the second half to finish at 30-for-55 from the field for the game (54.5 percent). The Huskies were 10-for-26 from behind the arc.
• Alex Karaban led UConn with 20 points on 7-for-10 shooting.
• Tristen Newton scored 17 points, largely behind 10-for-13 at the free throw line. He added nine rebounds.
• Both Stephon Castle and Spencer scored 14 points.
• UConn held a 33-24 rebounding advantage.
• Butler shot 47 percent from the field and was 8-for-17 from three-point range.
• Butler has scored at least 80 points in nine of its 15 games to start the season; the Bulldogs only hit the 80-point mark six times total a season ago.
• Friday night was Butler's first loss this season when leading at the half (now 9-1).

UP NEXT: The Bulldogs face their second consecutive Top 10 opponent, traveling to Marquette Wednesday night. The 9 p.m. (Eastern) tip is set for CBS Sports Network. Butler returns to Hinkle Fieldhouse for a Saturday, Jan. 13 game against Seton Hall.