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  Tuesday, Dec. 26 7:30pm ET
No. 11-ranked Huskies now 10-1
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- University of Connecticut freshman Caron Butler wasn't paying attention to the box score, but his teammates were.

Caron Butler
Connecticut's Caron Butler reaches out for a loose ball, holding off Rhode Island's Zach Marbury in the process.

He needed one more assist for a triple double, they told him. He got it with 2:43 remaining when a quick inside bounce pass to Johnnie Selvie paid off.

Butler finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists Tuesday to lead Connecticut (No. 11 ESPN/USA Today, No. 10 Associated Press) to an 87-76 victory over Rhode Island. Selvie, the junior college player of the year last season, had a career-high 26 points.

Butler is the first UConn player to achieve a triple-double since Doron Sheffer did it in the 1995-96 season.

"I'm looking to get my teammates more opportunities," Butler said. "I'm just very happy to be in this position. Hopefully, there will be many more."

The freshman's performance stood out on a night when neither team got style points for their play. The Huskies (10-1) were coming off a record 31-assist performance in the victory Friday over Fairfield, but stumbled and fumbled their way to this victory and were 0-for-8 from 3-point range.

UConn coach Jim Calhoun attributed the miscues to immaturity and sloppy defense.

"The team has to grow up a little bit and understand when we get to the Big East, it's not always going to be showtime and dunks and fastbreaks," Calhoun said. "Obviously for us to win we need to do that, but also play some good defense."

The Rams (3-8) didn't fare much better and couldn't match UConn's quickness and size inside. Both teams combined for 22 turnovers by halftime.

UConn built a 34-26 lead at the break, largely behind the inside play of Selvie, who had 16 points in the first half.

The Butler-Selvie tandem worked well all night.

"(Butler) is mature enough to truly understand that when you make your teammates better, everything good happens," Calhoun said.

When Rhode Island doubled up on Butler, Selvie was right there.

"Caron draws so many double teams from his offensive presence. And they forget about me," Selvie said. "So I'm just right there to finish it up for him. He makes the pass and I finish it."

The Huskies opened the second half with a 9-4 run, getting two quick baskets from center Souleymane Wane. Butler scored 10 of his points in the second half and the Huskies led by as much as 21 twice.

"If there's a better freshman in the country than Caron Butler, I want to know who he is," Rams coach Jerry DiGregorio said. "He's hard to defend. Fans at UConn better enjoy him because I don't think he'll be here that much longer."

Tavorris Bell led the Rams with 19 points and nine rebounds. The game also marked the return of Brian Woodward, who was averaging 11 points, before a knee injury sidelined him for seven games. He finished with 16 points.

Zach Marbury, the younger brother of New Jersey Nets' star Stephon Marbury had 17 points for the Rams.

UConn holds a 77-68 series edge over Rhode Island and has beaten the Rams six consecutive games. The programs are two of the most successful in New England.
 


ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard

Rhode Island Clubhouse

Connecticut Clubhouse


AUDIO/VIDEO
video
 UConn's Johnnie Selvie takes it to the hole for a monster dunk.
avi: 514 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

 UConn's Caron Butler finds Johnnie Selvie for the basket.
avi: 745 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1