Butler takes down No. 1 ’Nova
INDIANAPOLIS — Villanova’s perfect season is over and its reign at No. 1 probably is, too.
Kelan Martin scored 24 points and Paul Jorgensen had a career-high 23 to help Butler upset the previously unbeaten Wildcats 101-93 on Saturday. It’s the second straight year the Bulldogs (12-3, 2-0 Big East) have ended Villanova’s perfect start.
Jalen Brunson had 31 points and Mikal Bridges finished with 21 to help Villanova (13-1, 1-1) cut a 23-point deficit to six with 1:33 left. But Brunson missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with a chance to make it a four-point game and the comeback bid fell short.
Afterward, Butler students stormed the court — even after the public address announcer instructed them to wait until players had left the court.
It was a stunning twist for Villanova, which had won 10 of its 13 games by 14 or more points and was allowing 65.8 points per game.