Down 14 in the second half, Butler was able to claw all the way back to briefly tie the game before falling to No. 13/11 Connecticut in the closing minutes by a score of 78-74.
 
The game was played Saturday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
 
Andre Screen led the Bulldogs with a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double in the loss.
 
UConn improves to 10-3 (2-0 BIG EAST) with the win, while the Bulldogs lose their fifth straight to fall to 7-6 (0-2).
 
HOW IT TRANSPIRED:

• UConn made 10 of their first 13 attempts from the field, pushing out to a 25-9 lead at the 12:57 mark of the first half.
• The first of two Butler comebacks would follow as the Bulldogs pulled all the way back to 36-33 on a Jahmyl Telfort three-pointer with 2:23 remaining in the first half.
• The final six points of the first half belonged to UConn as they took a 42-33 halftime lead.
• Four turnovers by Butler in the first four minutes of the second half allowed UConn to rebuild the lead to 14 (51-37 at 15:57).
• The second comeback by the Bulldogs included a 13-2 run capped by a Kolby King free throw that tied the game at 63-63 with 4:43 to play.
• The play of the game followed as Hassan Diarrah ran down an offensive rebound that resulted in a Liam McNeeley three-point play and a 66-63 lead.
• Butler would have several chances over the closing four minutes but never was able to tie the game or regain the lead. UConn made all four of their free throws in the closing minutes.

 
NOTEWORTHY:

• Screen's double-double was his first in a Butler uniform, but was the fifth of his career.
• Screen also tied his career-high with four blocks, all of which came in the first half. His nine made free throws (on nine attempts) were also a career-high. 
• Patrick McCaffery matched Screen's 17 points, with 13 coming in the second half.
• UConn made 11 of their 24 attempts from three-point range (46 percent).
• Alex Karaban led the Huskies with 21 points, while McNeeley added 17 points and seven assists.
• King had nine points and eight rebounds for Butler.
• Telfort had seven points, seven assists and six rebounds.
• Butler got to the free throw 28 times, making 23 (81 percent).  
• The Bulldogs conclude a five-game stretch that included four Top 25 opponents (Houston, Wisconsin, Marquette, Connecticut).
• UConn has won all 10 meetings with Butler.

 
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs step away from campus for the holidays before returning for a New Year's Day tip against Villanova at Hinkle Fieldhouse. A limited number of tickets for the 6:30 p.m. tip remain available. Fans can watch the contest on FS1 or listen to the game as part of Butler Basketball Live with Mark Minner and Nick Gardner via the Varsity Network app.