College Basketball Roundup : Butler Scores 25 as UNLV Wins Big West Title

David Butler scored 25 points as 18th-ranked Nevada Las Vegas clinched its seventh consecutive Big West Conference title Monday night with an 84-75 victory over UC Santa Barbara at Goleta.

The Rebels, who last Saturday lost to Louisiana State, 88-87, improved their Big West record to 14-2. They are 21-7 overall. Santa Barbara is 10-7 in the conference and 19-7 overall.

UNLV’s pressure defense forced 11 Santa Barbara turnovers in the first half. The Rebels outscored the Gauchos, 20-3, in a six-minute span to take a 39-20 lead.

Butler, a 6-foot-10 junior, had 14 points in the first half.

St. John’s 62, Boston College 59--Matt Brust made a three-point shot with 1:55 remaining in overtime as St. John’s defeated Boston College in a Big East game at New York.

Brust sent the game to overtime when he sank two free throws with 27 seconds left to make it 55-55. After Boston College scored the first basket of the extra period, the Redmen (16-11 overall, 5-10 in the Big East) cut the deficit to 57-56 when Malik Sealy made a free throw with 2:26 remaining. Brust then made his 21-foot jumper from the left side to put the Redmen ahead for good.

After Brust’s three-pointer, Jayson Williams scored on a layup to make it 61-57 with 1:09 remaining. Steve Benton sank a jumper for the Eagles with 58 seconds left, but Sealy’s free throw completed the scoring with 25 seconds left.

Georgetown 76, Villanova 62--Charles Smith had 24 points as the No. 2 Hoyas beat the Wildcats in a Big East game at Landover, Md.

Smith made only six of 16 shots, but his baskets came when Georgetown (23-3, 13-2) needed them most. Smith also made nine of 12 free throws.

Gary Massey scored 16 points for Villanova (15-14, 6-9).

Michigan 79, Michigan State 52--Loy Vaught scored 16 points and the No. 10 Wolverines downed the Spartans in a Big Ten Conference game at East Lansing, Mich.

Michigan (22-6, 10-5) took control by scoring 18 straight points for a 45-32 lead with 17:27 left.