The two BIG EAST games on New Year’s Eve got off to lopsided starts, but both contests got closer in the second half with one going down to the final seconds.
At Carnesecca Arena, 11th-ranked Butler streaked to a 39-16 lead against St. John’s. The Johnnies stormed back to take the lead before the Bulldogs responded defensively in the final minutes to grab a 60-58 win.
Kamar Baldwin scored a game-high 19 points for the Bulldogs (13-1), who overcame a season-high 24 turnovers. Christian David’s only basket of the game, a 3-pointer with 43 seconds left, was the critical hoop for Butler.