Butler shakes off pesky Davidson

Maybe No. 11 Butler had opening-day jitters.

Or perhaps the problem was just facing another strong mid-major program so early in the season.

Whatever the explanation, the Bulldogs strung together a 15-4 closing run to pull away from visiting Davidson, 73-62, on Saturday.

"It's a lot of fun, but I'm sure there are some anxious moments and that's okay," Butler Coach Brad Stevens said. "This game is not going to define who you are, win or lose, but it gives you a lot to work on."

-- OKLAHOMA 95, MOUNT ST. MARY'S 71: Steven Pledger scored 21 points and the heralded freshman class lifted the No. 17 Sooners to a victory over the visiting Mountaineers.

Another freshman, Keith "Tiny" Gallon, had 18 points and 15 rebounds, while sophomore Willie Warren added 15 points and a career-high 11 assists for his first double-double for Oklahoma, which has won 23 of its last 25 season openers.

The win was the 1,499th in Oklahoma's history, the 29th-highest total in Division I.

-- DAYTON 90, CREIGHTON 80: Chris Johnson had a double-double, and Chris Wright led a second-half surge that carried the No. 21 Flyers to a home victory over the Bluejays in an opening matchup of teams that won 27 games apiece last season.

Dayton, ranked in the preseason poll for the first time since 1967, overcame a 10-point deficit in the first half and regrouped, pulling away in the closing minutes. The Flyers won their 21st in a row on their home floor, tying the school record.

-- MICHIGAN 97, N. MICHIGAN 50: Manny Harris recorded the second triple-double in school history and No. 15 Michigan routed visiting Division II Northern Michigan.

Harris had 18 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists to match the feat accomplished by Gary Grant against North Carolina in the 1987 NCAA tournament. Harris was taken out of the game after recording his 10th assist on a three-pointer that gave Michigan a 84-41 lead with 8 minutes 15 seconds to play.

-- GEORGIA TECH 100, FLORIDA A&M 59: Iman Shumpert scored 18 points and capped a decisive run in the first half, and No. 22 Georgia Tech showed off its freshmen in its win over visiting Florida A&M.

Derrick Favors, the biggest name in Georgia Tech's heralded freshman class, started and had 10 points and eight rebounds.

U-Conn. women roll

Tina Charles grabbed her 1,000th career rebound, Kalana Greene scored her 1,000th career point and Connecticut put up a school-record 69 points in the first half in routing Northeastern, 105-35, to begin defense of the program's sixth national championship.

Charles led the way with 26 points and 13 rebounds, and was one of six Huskies in double figures. U-Conn. scored the game's first 28 points and was never challenged.

"It's a mind-set," said Maya Moore, who finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds.