INDIANAPOLIS — Gordon Hayward scored 17 points and Willie Veasley added 15 to lead No. 11 Butler to a 73-62 win over Davidson on Saturday.

The Bulldogs (1-0) rallied twice from 10-point deficits in the first half, then used a late run to seal it.

Davidson (0-1) was led by Ben Allison with 13 points and Brendan McKillop with 11.

It certainly wasn't a picture perfect start for Butler, which was trying to protect the highest preseason ranking in school history.

The Bulldogs have built their reputation over the past decade on three keys: Limiting turnovers, stifling defense and shooting well from 3-point range.

But Butler was missing all three facets for much of the first half Saturday. The Bulldogs committed seven turnovers in the half, were called for 11 fouls, and shot just 7 of 22 over the first 16 1/2 minutes.

Not surprisingly, Davidson took advantage of the miscues to build a 31-21 lead with 3:29 left in the half.

Story continues below

That's when Butler reverted to form.

Shelvin Mack made two free throws, Veasley hit a 3, Mack drove in for a layup and then hit 1-of-2 free throws to get the Bulldogs within 33-29 with 1:16 left. Veasley followed that with back-to-back 3s, and Hayward closed the half with two free throws with 2.4 seconds to go, giving Butler a 37-35 halftime lead.

When the Bulldogs opened the second with another 3 from Veasley and two free throws from Horizon League player of the year Matt Howard to make it 42-35, it appeared the Bulldogs might pull away.

Davidson had other plans.

The Wildcats continued to hang around, closing to 54-52 with 11:33 to go, then getting a go-ahead 3 from JP Kuhlman to make it 55-54.

After trading a basket for another Davidson 3, though, Butler took charge. Hayward's layup with 9:20 to go ignited a 12-0 run that sealed the outcome.

It was Davidson's first game since losing Stephen Curry to the NBA.