{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Butler 75, Rhode Island 68
When: 4:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 2, 2013
Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Officials: # Tony Chiazza, # Matt Lee, # Damon Williams
Attendance: 10000

No. 10 Butler 75, Rhode Island 68:
Rotnei Clarke scored 23 points and made five 3-point baskets as the host Bulldogs used a strong second half to down the Rams in Atlantic 10 play.

Roosevelt Jones tallied 18 points and Khyle Marshall added 13 as Butler (18-4, 5-2 A-10) scored the first 13 points of the second half while rebounding from a drubbing by Saint Louis two nights earlier.

Nikola Malesevic scored 18 points while Xavier Munford and Mike Powell scored 14 apiece for Rhode Island (6-14, 1-6). The Rams led 32-30 at halftime but crumbled in the opening minutes of the second half for their fourth straight loss.

Rhode Island led by as many as nine points in the first half but self-destructed with four turnovers in its first five second-half possessions as Butler took control. Clarke had a four-point play to give the Bulldogs the lead and Jones converted a three-play to end the 13-0 run that gave Butler a 43-32 lead.

The Bulldogs were ahead 67-54 with less than 4 1/2 minutes to play before Rhode Island used a 12-3 run to pull within four with 1:45 remaining. The Bulldogs hit three free throws in the final 27 seconds to hold on.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Butler F Erik Fromm missed the game after his father lost his battle to cancer earlier Saturday. … Rhode Island’s six Atlantic 10 defeats are by a combined 28 points. … Bulldogs C Andrew Smith had eight points before fouling out to become the 34th player in school history to top 1,000 points. Smith has 1,005.
Top Game Performances
 
Rhode Island   Butler
Nikola Malesevic 18 Scoring Rotnei Clarke 23
Xavier Munford 3 Assists Roosevelt Jones 4
Nikola Malesevic 6 Rebounds Roosevelt Jones 6
Mike Powell 9 Free Throws Made Roosevelt Jones 8
Jordan Hare 1 Steals Rotnei Clarke 2
Ryan Brooks 1 Blocks Andrew Smith 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Rhode Island 68 40.0 4-11 24-28 9 22 3 5 12
Butler 75 48.9 5-12 24-27 11 28 2 5 15