Call Connecticut Victorious

Aside from the occasional “ooh” and “aah,” 31 of Caron Butler’s 34 points passed without comment as his Connecticut Huskies battled North Carolina State Sunday in an NCAA second-round East Regional game.

The other three, however, elicited controversy in the Huskies’ 77-74 escape from the Wolfpack at the MCI Center.

With 11 seconds left and Connecticut leading 72-71 after a 14-5 Wolfpack run capped by Marcus Melvin’s three-pointer, N.C. State’s Julius Hodge was called for a foul on Butler, who had tried to hit a three-pointer as the shot clock expired.

It was difficult to hear the whistle, which may have come late and, according to Hodge, may have come unnecessarily. Though Hodge appeared to make contact with Butler’s arm during the shot, he wondered about the accuracy, as well as the timing.

“If a call like that comes at the end, it needs to be called throughout the whole game,” said Hodge. “It’s hard to take, but that’s the way it goes.”

“I know I was fouled,” said Butler, who had 20 of his points over the final 10:45 and also had nine rebounds and four assists. “Julius was doing a great job of defending me, and I freed myself by making a crossover.... I pulled up and he hit me on the forearm and the rest is history.”

Butler hit all three free throws for a 75-71 lead and after Ilian Evtimov’s three-pointer pulled N.C. State to within 75-74 with 4.3 seconds left, Butler hit two more free throws and though Hodge’s 35-footer seemed on line to send the game to overtime, the shot hit the rim.

Led by Butler, and with 18 points from Tony Robertson, the Huskies (26-6) moved into the East semifinals against Southern Illinois in Syracuse, N.Y.