HARTFORD – (Staff Report from Official News Recap) – Playing on back-to-back nights, Butler became the first BIG EAST team to reach a perfect 3-0 record as the early days of the college basketball season progress. UConn, St. John’s and DePaul also were victorious on Saturday. Georgetown was upset in its season opener.
Butler struggled offensively in the first half against Troy until the halftime buzzer when Bryce Nze threw in a shot from approximately 80 feet, which tied the game 23-23. Butler seized the momentum and scored 47 points in the second half in a 70-59 victory. Chuck Harris scored a team-high 23 points.
UConn played its first game at the XL Center in 21 months and had little pushback in an 89-54 win over Coppin State. Adama Sanogo scored 20 points for the second straight game and led five Huskies in double figures. R.J. Cole added 16 points and six assists.
St. John’s joined the group of 2-0 teams with a 91-70 triumph over Saint Peter’s. Julian Champagnie scored a game-high 22 points. The Johnnies, who struggled with the Peacocks last season, led 47-27 at halftime. Tareq Coburn came off the bench to score 17 points.
DePaul pulled away in the second half of its 99-66 handling of Central Michigan. For a second straight game, Javon Freeman-Liberty led the way, posting 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Minnesota transfer Brandon Johnson helped with 20 points and seven rebounds.
Georgetown was the only team not to taste victory on Saturday. The Hoyas overcame a 22-point deficit to take a brief lead in the second half against Dartmouth, before losing 69-60. In his collegiate debut, Aminu Mohammed, the Preseason BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, had 17 points and six rebounds.
BIG EAST teams own a 19-2 record going into Sunday’s schedule, which has only one contest. Seton Hall will look to improve to 2-0 with a home game against Yale at noon ET on FS1.