University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Get Past Providence, 69-62
1/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Providence, RI (January 16, 2002) -Tony Robertson (Providence, RI) returned to his hometown and matched his career-high with 22 points to give the University of Connecticut men’s basketball team a 69-62 victory over Providence College Wednesday night at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The win marked UConn’s seventh in the last eight meetings with the Friars and sent the Huskies to an 11-3 record and 5-0 in the BIG EAST, while PC fell to 10-8 and 1-3 in the league.
The Huskies jumped out to an early 8-2 lead behind a dunk from Johnnie Selvie (Flint, MI) and back-to-back three pointers from Caron Butler (So., Racine, WI) and Robertson. However, it was Abdul Mills who buried his third three pointer just under seven minutes into the game to give Providence a 13-10 advantage.
Midway through the first, Providence missed eight straight field goals and Butler had UConn on top again, 16-15, at the 9:44 mark. After the two teams exchanged the lead, the Huskies took advantage of a 9-2 run over the final three minutes of the half to take a 30-24 lead.
The second half began in the same fashion that the first ended with Connecticut again going on a 9-2 run to build the lead to a dozen, marking the largest of the night. Providence would get to within three, 43-40, after going on an 8-0 run that saw Christopher Anrin hit a three with 11:50 to go in the game.
Nearly half of UConn’s points came in the paint with the Huskies scoring 34 inside, while Providence countered that by scoring 20 of its points off of 22 Husky turnovers.
Robertson finished by hitting seven of nine from the field including four of five from behind the three point arc. He also hit four of six from the free throw line. Butler dropped in 21 points by going 6-of-13 and hitting all eight of his free throw attempts. Emeka Okafor (Houston, Texas) led UConn in rebounds with 12, reaching double figures in the department for the sixth time in his career.
Providence managed only 20-of-68 from the field as the Friars combined to shoot 29.4 percent, the lowest total of any UConn opponent this season. Ryan Gomes was one of three to end up in double figures as he finished with 17 points.
UConn returns to Gampel Pavilion for a CBS nationally-televised game against the Tar Heels of the University of North Carolina on Saturday, January 19. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.
