Butler stayed within a few possessions of No. 1 UConn for the duration of the second half before ultimately falling, 71-62, Tuesday night in Hartford, Conn.
 
The loss ends Butler's four-game BIG EAST winning streak, while the Huskies extend their streak to 11 consecutive wins.
 
The Bulldogs fall to 15-8 (6-6 BIG EAST), while UConn improves to 21-2 and stays atop the BIG EAST at 11-1 in conference play.
 
HOW IT TRANSPIRED:
 

• The first true separation of the game came as UConn utilized an 11-2 run to take a 30-18 lead with 3:41 remaining in the first half. Twenty-four of those first 30 UConn points were scored by Donovan Clingan and Cam Spencer.
• DJ Davis hit a three-pointer as the first half buzzer sounded to pull Butler within 35-27 at intermission. Davis netted 11 points in the first half.
• Davis then starting the second half by scoring the first five points to cut the lead to one possession at 35-32, the closest Butler had been since the 7:00 mark of the first half (21-16).
• Butler once again cut the advantage to five at 49-44 following an Andre Screen putback slam with 11:11 to play before UConn was able to extend its lead back to double digits with the next five points (54-44).
• Butler cut the lead to five for the final time at 63-58 following a Pierre Brooks II three-pointer with 2:30 remaining. A Clingan three-point play and Alex Karaban three-pointer returned the lead to 11.

 
OF NOTE:

• UConn shot 58 percent from the field over the opening 20 minutes in building their lead and finished at 47 percent for the game.
• Davis led all scorers with 21 points. He went 6-for-12 from the field and made all six of his free throw attempts. Davis is the national leader in free throw percentage.
• Jahmyl Telfort added 17 points for the Bulldogs.
• UConn was led by 20 points from Spencer and an 18-point, 14-rebound double-double from Clingan.
• Butler shot 37 percent from the field, including making only four of their 18 attempts from three-point range.
• Point guard Posh Alexander, who missed the Creighton game Friday with a foot injury, returned to action and the starting line-up for the Bulldogs. He had eight points, five assists and five rebounds.
• Alexander went over 500 career assists in the contest.
• Andre Screen pulled down nine rebounds, a season-high. Both teams had 33 rebounds for the game.
• Butler went 14-for-15 from the free throw line. Entering the game, Butler ranked sixth nationally in free throw shooting at 78.6 percent. Butler has shot 70 percent or better from the line in all but one game.
• The Bulldogs are now 3-7 all-time against teams ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, while UConn has won all nine meetings between the two programs.
• UConn sweeps the season series after winning the first match-up between the two teams, also taking an 88-81 decision Jan. 5 at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

 
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs return to Hinkle Fieldhouse for a three-game homestand, beginning with Providence Saturday afternoon. Tickets still remain for the 2 p.m. tip, which will also air on FS1. Home games against Top 25 opponents Marquette (Tuesday, Feb. 13) and Creighton (Saturday, Feb. 17) follow.