BUTLER TWP — Nobody expected this.

North Allegheny got to the basket early and often Tuesday night in rolling to a runaway 92-64 boys basketball victory at Butler.

The Golden Tornado (14-3, 7-3) lost for the third time in four games, but they lost at home for the first time this season. Butler entered the contest allowing 43.9 points per game. The Tigers (14-7, 7-2) had 48 by halftime.

Butler had allowed as many as 48 points in a game only five times this season.

"This was an old-fashioned butt whipping," Butler coach Matt Clement said. "Their defense got our offense out of rhythm early and got us to play the kind of game they want their opponents to play: helter-skelter, throwing the ball all over the place."

Butler committed 29 turnovers to NA's 14 as the Tigers avenged a 62-49 loss to Butler three weeks ago.

"They may have gotten to the hoop three times in that entire game," Clement said of the Tornado's win on NA's floor. "They had 14 uncontested layups tonight in the first half alone."

North Allegheny never trailed Tuesday, jumping out to a 9-2 lead. The Tigers scored at least 20 points in every quarter.

"We took better angles to the basket tonight and were much more intense on defense," Tigers coach Dave DeGregorio said.

Butler hadn't allowed 60 points in a game before Tuesday. The previous high-water mark for an opponent was 58 by Summit Academy at the Butler Christmas Tournament.

"I'm happy we did this tonight, but I'm not surprised," DeGregorio said. "This is what we're capable of doing. We took 20 more shots than they did. That's a big difference right there."

The Tigers had a 48-30 halftime lead despite hitting only 1-of-9 3-pointers in the first 16 minutes. Jack Counahan sank two in the first minute of the third quarter, NA's lead surpassed 20 and the visitors were home free.

Five NA players scored in double figures. Anthony Dallier had 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Anton Constantino tallied 21 points and three steals.

Ryan Besonson had 16 points before fouling out with 3:33 remaining. Steve Ferringer netted 12 points and Counahan had 11 points and five assists. Ben Colabrese had six steals for the Tigers.

Nate Snodgrass paced Butler with 21 points. Brian Jendesky added 13 and Bobby Swartwout had 12 points and six rebounds.

"We didn't handle their pressure as well as we did at their place," Clement said. "When you get past their first wave, you need to attack the basket and we didn't. And we didn't get past their first wave all that much.

"They embarrassed us tonight. They trapped right to the final seconds, making sure we got the message and we did.

"How do we respond to this? I believe in the kids in that locker room. This isn't just a basketball lesson, it's a life lesson. You're going to get kicked in the gut a lot in life. Now what are we going to do about it?" Clement added.

The loss knocks Butler out of any realistic shot at a section title. North Allegheny remains in contention, but trails Central Catholic by a 1Z\x games.

NORTH ALLEGHENY 92Anthony Dallier 9-14 3-4 21, J.C. Howard 0-1 2-2 2, Anton Constantino 9-16 0-2 21, Steve Ferringer 5-7 2-2 12, Ben Colabrese 1-1 0-0 2, Bryum Luoco 0-0 0-0 0, Ryan Besonson 5-7 6-7 16, Jake Wrigley 1-1 0-0 3, Jack Counahan 5-7 0-0 11, Kevin Cope 1-4 1-2 4, Chris Conti 0-1 0-0 0, Ryan Rupert 0-1 0-0 0, Ricky Minsterman 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 36-60 14-19 92.

BUTLER 64Cole Harvey 0-0 0-2 0, Nate Snodgrass 6-10 8-12 21, Eli Christy 0-1 2-2 2, Logan Renwick 0-3 1-2 1, Brian Jendesky 4-4 4-4 13, Cody Herald 4-7 0-0 10, Jeff Tompkins 1-2 1-2 3, Vinny Schmidt 1-4 0-0 2, Bobby Swartwout 5-9 1-1 12.

Totals: 21-40 17-25 64.

North Allegheny 23 25 24 20—92Butler 16 14 18 16—643-point goals: North Allegheny 6 (Constantino 3, Wrigley, Counahan, Cope); Butler 5 (Snodgrass, Jendesky, Herald 2, Swartwout).

Junior varsity: North Allegheny, 38-36 (NA: Bryum Luoco 9, B: David Tompkins 8)

Friday: Butler at Fox Chapel