Creighton tops Butler to match its best-ever start
The host Bluejays (16-1, 4-1 Big East) rode hot shooting in the first half to build a big lead that Butler (14-3, 3-2) couldn’t overcome.
Watson made 9 of 14 shots and had seven assists but committed a season-high eight turnovers.
Justin Jackson’s three-pointer with 1:03 left and helped the visiting Tar Heels (15-3, 3-1 ACC) hold off the Demon Deacons.
Jackson had 19 points and Kennedy Meeks added 18 points and 11 rebounds for North Carolina, which had let a 19-point second-half lead slip to one.
Quentin Snider’s team-high 22 points included two made free throws with 25.3 seconds remaining, and the host Cardinals (14-3, 2-2 ACC) survived a 32-point second-half onslaught by the Panthers’ Jamel Artis.
Miles Bridges scored all 16 of his points in the first half for the host Spartans (12-6, 4-1 Big Ten), who started the night in a five-way tie atop the conference with the Golden Gophers (11-7, 3-2) and moved a half-game ahead of No. 17 Purdue, Maryland and Nebraska.
Freshman Lauren Cox made her first seven shots and scored 19 points to help the Lady Bears (16-1, 5-0) win their 51st straight home game.