HARTFORD, Conn. (Interstat) — The Connecticut Huskies, displaying the depth and defensive dominance that has defined their early season, methodically dispatched the Butler Bulldogs 79-60 in a Big East Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at a sold-out XL Center.

A crowd of 15,495 watched the Huskies improve to 11-1 overall and 1-0 in the conference, while Butler fell to 8-3 and 0-1. The game was never in serious doubt after a decisive first-half run by the home team.

Connecticut established control early with a 14-2 surge that turned a narrow 15-13 lead into a 29-15 advantage. The run was fueled by stifling interior defense and efficient offense. The Huskies’ rim protection was a constant theme, with Tarris Reed, Eric Reibe and Alex Karaban combining for eight blocked shots in the game, many during that pivotal stretch. Butler struggled to find clean looks near the basket, and Connecticut capitalized on the other end with a balanced attack.

The Huskies took a 39-25 lead into halftime and never allowed the Bulldogs to mount a sustained threat in the second half. Butler managed to cut the deficit to 12 points on a few occasions, but each time Connecticut responded with a basket to halt momentum. The Huskies’ lead ballooned to as many as 23 points before settling on the final 19-point margin.

Solo Ball, a guard from Leesburg, Virginia, led all scorers with 26 points for Connecticut, showcasing a versatile offensive game with drives, jumpers and three-pointers. He added two assists and a block in 32 minutes. Forward Tarris Reed of St. Louis was a force inside, scoring 16 points and recording three blocks in just 21 minutes of action. His early alley-oop dunk set an aggressive tone for the Huskies.

Butler was led by Drayton Jones, a 6-foot-11 forward from Houston, who scored 13 points and blocked two shots. Guards Azavier Robinson and Evan Haywood each added 10 points for the Bulldogs, who shot poorly from the field against Connecticut’s relentless defense.

The most important part of the game was Connecticut’s overwhelming defensive performance in the paint, particularly in the first half. The sequence that encapsulated this dominance occurred between the 15:34 and 14:04 marks of the first half. In a span of just 90 seconds, Connecticut’s Eric Reibe blocked two Butler layup attempts, first by Michael Ajayi and then by Yohan Traore. These denials ignited the Huskies’ transition game and fueled the critical 14-2 run that effectively decided the contest. Butler’s offense, forced to operate from the perimeter, could not find a consistent rhythm thereafter.

Connecticut’s backcourt facilitator, Silas Demary of Raleigh, North Carolina, directed the offense with precision, dishing out 11 assists against only four turnovers. His backcourt mate, Braylon Mullins of Greenfield, Indiana, contributed 12 points, while forward Jayden Ross of Bristow, Virginia, provided a significant spark off the bench with 13 points and energetic play.

Butler, coming off a dramatic double-overtime victory over Providence, could not replicate that energy against a Connecticut team that has now won six straight games since its only loss to Arizona last month. The Huskies have held eight of their 12 opponents under 70 points this season.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Connecticut with a 95.70 percent probability to win. The total score of 139 points fell under the over/under line of 149.5.

Butler will look to rebound at home against Northwestern on Saturday. Connecticut continues its Big East schedule with a road game at DePaul on Sunday.