COL BKB: Butler 72, St. Joseph's 66

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Rotnei Clarke put Butler in front for good with 7:42 remaining Wednesday and the No. 17 Bulldogs fought off St. Joseph's 72-66.

Butler took a four-point lead with 3:11 remaining and allowed the Hawks just two points the rest of the way in what was the opener of both teams' Atlantic-10 Conference campaign.

Clarke gave Butler a 57-56 advantage with a 3-pointer after the Hawks had led for much of the contest. He delivered 28 points, hitting six 3-pointers along the way. Andrew Smith added 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs (13-2), who overcame a five-point halftime deficit.

Chris Wilson had 15 points for St. Joseph's.