Butler upsets No. 1 Villanova, holds off late rally

Butler stunningly took down No. 1 Villanova on Saturday, 101-93, to hand the nation's top team its first loss of the season. The Bulldogs dominated early, leading by as many as 23 midway through the second half, and held off a late rally by the Wildcats in the high-scoring Big East clash. 

National player of the year candidate Jalen Brunson (31 points) put the team on his back and helped spearhead a determined comeback effort, but ultimately 'Nova dug itself too big of a hole. The team shot just 12-for-35 from beyond the arc and got out-rebounded 37-27.

The Bulldogs entered Saturday's contest riding the momentum of a comeback overtime victory over Georgetown earlier in the week and used an upstart offense (which included a blistering 68% shooting from three) on their homecourt to put the Wildcats out of rhythm from the get-go. Kelan Martin led the way for Butler with 24 points, while Paul Jorgensen and Kamar Baldwin added 23 and 19 points, respectively. 

COLLEGE BASKETBALL HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK

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Best of 2017-18 men's college basketball: Dec. 25-31

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Kansas Jayhawks guard Marcus Garrett (0) and Texas Longhorns forward Mohamed Bamba (4) battle for a rebound during the first half at Frank Erwin Center.  John Gutierrez, USA TODAY Sports

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Texas Longhorns guard Kerwin Roach II (12) and Kansas Jayhawks guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (10) reach for a loose ball during the first half at Frank Erwin Center.  John Gutierrez, USA TODAY Sports

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Kansas Jayhawks guard Lagerald Vick (2) and Texas Longhorns forward Mohamed Bamba (4) battle for a rebound that gets away during the first half at Frank Erwin Center.  John Gutierrez, USA TODAY Sports

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Kentucky Wildcats forward Wenyen Gabriel (32) reacts during the game against Louisville Cardinals forward Deng Adel (22) in the second half at Rupp Arena.  Mark Zerof, USA TODAY Sports

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Kentucky Wildcats guard Quade Green (0) celebrates with guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (22) during the game the Louisville Cardinals in the second half at Rupp Arena.  Mark Zerof, USA TODAY Sports

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Kentucky Wildcats forward PJ Washington (25) dunks the ball against Louisville Cardinals forward Ray Spalding (13) in the second half at Rupp Arena.  Mark Zerof, USA TODAY Sports

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Kentucky Wildcats guard Quade Green (0) shoots the ball against Louisville Cardinals forward Anas Mahmoud (14) and forward Ray Spalding (13) in the second half at Rupp Arena.  Mark Zerof, USA TODAY Sports

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Kentucky Wildcats guard Hamidou Diallo (3) dunks the ball against the Louisville Cardinals in the first half at Rupp Arena.  Mark Zerof, USA TODAY Sports

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Cleveland State Vikings guard Kasheem Thomas (1) drives to the basket over Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) during the second half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center.  Mike Carter, USA TODAY Sports

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Michigan State Spartans forward Nick Ward (44) is defended by Cleveland State Vikings guard Tyree Appleby (5) during the second half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center.  Mike Carter, USA TODAY Sports

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Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) lays the ball up against Cleveland State Vikings guard Dontel Highsmith (3) during the second half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center.  Mike Carter, USA TODAY Sports

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Cleveland State Vikings forward Stefan Kenic (13) has his shot blocked by Michigan State Spartans forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (2) during the first half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center.  Mike Carter, USA TODAY Sports

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Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Zhaire Smith (2) dunks the ball against the Baylor Bears in the second half at United Supermarkets Arena.  Michael C. Johnson, USA TODAY Sports

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Baylor Bears forward Tristan Clark (25) tries to block a shot by Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Zhaire Smith (2) in the second half at United Supermarkets Arena.  Michael C. Johnson, USA TODAY Sports

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Texas Tech Red Raiders center Norense Odiase (32) takes a hook shot against Baylor Bears forward Tristan Clark (25) in the first half at United Supermarkets Arena.  Michael C. Johnson, USA TODAY Sports

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Baylor Bears guard Manu Lecomte (20) tries to shoot over Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Zaire Smith (2) in the first half at United Supermarkets Arena.  Michael C. Johnson, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 28: Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Josh Perkins (13) and guard Zach Norvell Jr. (23) celebrate during the second half against the Pacific Tigers at McCarthey Athletic Center.  James Snook, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 28: Pacific Tigers guard Lafayette Dorsey (1) tries to dunk against Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Jeremy Jones (22) during the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center.  James Snook, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 28: Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Zach Norvell Jr. (23) shoots the basketball against Pacific Tigers forward Anthony Townes (5) during the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center.  James Snook, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 28: Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Silas Melson (0) fights for the basketball against Pacific Tigers center Namdi Okonkwo (24) during the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center.  James Snook, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 28: Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Johnathan Williams (3) tries to rebound the basketball against Pacific Tigers center Namdi Okonkwo (24) during the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center.  James Snook, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 28: Seton Hall Pirates guard Khadeen Carrington (0) celebrates against the Creighton Bluejays during the second half at Prudential Center.  Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 28: Seton Hall Pirates guard Myles Powell (13) shoots the ball over Creighton Bluejays forward Toby Hegner (32) during the second half at Prudential Center.  Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 28: Creighton Bluejays forward Martin Krampelj (15) dunks in front of Seton Hall Pirates center Angel Delgado (31) during the second half at Prudential Center.  Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 28: Creighton Bluejays forward Martin Krampelj (15) dunks in front of Seton Hall Pirates guard Khadeen Carrington (0) during the first half at Prudential Center.  Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 28: Seton Hall Pirates forward Ismael Sanogo (14) blocks a shot by Creighton Bluejays guard Ronnie Harrell Jr. (4) during the first half at Prudential Center.  Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 28: Creighton Bluejays guard Marcus Foster (0) lays the ball up in front of Seton Hall Pirates center Angel Delgado (31) during the first half at Prudential Center.  Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 27: Villanova forward Eric Paschall throws down a two-handed slam during the second half against DePaul.  Kamil Krzaczynski, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 27: Butler forward Kelan Martin (30) hoists the game-winning shot during double-overtime against Georgetown.  Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 27: Boise State guard Chandler Hutchison (15) drives to the basket against Colorado State defender Kris Martin (30) during the second half.  Brian Losness, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 27: Wisconsin guard Khalil Iverson (21) scrambles for a loose ball between Chicago State defenders Jelani Pruitt (2) and Fred Sims, Jr. (14) during the first half.  Mary Langenfeld, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 27: Eastern Michigan guard Paul Jackson (3) drives to the bucket against Syracuse center Paschal Chukwu (13) during the second half.  Mark Konezny, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 27: Marquette guard Sam Hauser (10) scrambles for a loose ball against Xavier forward Naji Marshall (13) during the second half.  Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 27: San Diego State guard Trey Kell (3) drives to the hoop between Wyoming defenders Cody Kelley (10) and Hunter Maldonado (12) during the first half.  Troy Babbitt, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 25: The USC Trojans pose with their trophy after defeating the New Mexico State Aggies 77-72 to win the Diamond Head Classic at Stan Sheriff Center.  Marco Garcia, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 25: The USC Trojans react with Bennie Boatwright (25) after defeating the New Mexico State Aggies 77-72 to win the Diamond Head Classic at Stan Sheriff Center.  Marco Garcia, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 25: Teammates celebrate with USC Trojans forward Bennie Boatwright (25) after the Trojans defeated the New Mexico State Aggies 77-72 in the Diamond Head Classic at Stan Sheriff Center.  Marco Garcia, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 25: New Mexico State Aggies guard Zach Lofton (23) can't stop USC Trojans forward Bennie Boatwright (25) from making a late three-point basket that helped the Trojans defeat the New Mexico State Aggies 77-72 in the Diamond Head Classic at Stan Sheriff Center.  Marco Garcia, USA TODAY Sports

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Dec. 25: New Mexico State Aggies guard Sidy N'Dir (13) takes a shot over USC Trojans guard Elijah Stewart (30) during the first half at Stan Sheriff Center.  Marco Garcia, USA TODAY Sports

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