Butler stays hot

Mike Green scored a career-high 21 points, Julian Betko and A.J. Graves each had 11 and the 15th-ranked Butler Bulldogs ran away from in-state rival Ball State 63-41 Wednesday night in Indianapolis.

Butler (10-0) matched the third-best start in school history and kept its perfect record intact, protecting its highest ranking since 1948-49 – the first season of the Associated Press’ poll – for the second straight game.

Anthony Newell had 11 points for the Cardinals (3-5), who lost for the fifth time in six games.

(2) Pittsburgh 73, Duquesne 56: At Pittsburgh, Aaron Gray had 15 points and 12 rebounds and the Panthers (9-0) quickly built a 20-point lead against the shootings-depleted city rival Dukes (2-5) before easing to a victory.

The 7-foot Gray, shooting nearly 70 percent for the season, missed 7 of 13 shots but was too much for a Duquesne team that is down to nine scholarship players following the on-campus shooting of five players in September.

(7) Florida 85, Providence 67: At Gainesville, Fla., Al Horford scored a career-high 21 points, Joakim Noah added 17 and the Gators (8-2) rebounded from their second loss of the season with a victory over the Friars (6-2).

The latest victory left coach Billy Donovan one shy of tying Norm Sloan (235) for the most in school history.

(7) Duke 57, Holy Cross 45: At Durham, N.C., DeMarcus Nelson and Josh McRoberts each scored 13 points to lead the Blue Devils (8-1) past the Crusaders (6-3).

Freshman Gerald Henderson added eight points and came up with some big plays during a 20-4 second-half run for the Blue Devils, who trailed most of the way before the decisive run.

Tennessee 76, (16) Memphis 58: At Knoxville, Tenn., Chris Lofton scored a career-high 34 points as the Volunteers (7-2) built a big lead in the first half en rout to an upset win over the Tigers (6-2).

Douglas-Roberts led Memphis with 19 points while Robert Dozier had 13.

(19) Connecticut 81, Northeastern 53: At Storrs, Conn., Jeff Adrien scored a career-high 18 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead the UConn Huskies (8-0) over the Northeastern Huskies (2-6).

It was Adrien’s fifth double-double this season for Connecticut, which won its 27th in a row at home.

(23) Maryland 79, Fordham 59: At College Park, Md., Mike Jones scored 18 points and the Terrapins (9-1) rebounded from their first loss of the season with a victory over the Rams (4-3).

D.J. Strawberry and Greivis Vasquez each had 16 points for the Terrapins, who improved to 8-1 all time against the Rams.