University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn routs American International, 78-35
11/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 2, 2011
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STORRS, Conn. (AP) - Jeremy Lamb scored 17 points and Shabazz Napier added 15 assists to help No. 4 Connecticut rout American International 78-35 in an exhibition game on Wednesday night.
Napier also had nine points and seven rebounds for the defending national champions. UConn scored the game's first 14 points and never looked back.
The Yellow Jackets missed their first eight shots from the field and didn't score until Braxton Gardner's 3-pointer with 13:51 to play in the first half. American International made just five field goals - all 3-pointers - on 28 attempts in the opening half but trailed UConn only 28-15 at the break.
Carter finished with 16 points, hitting four 3-pointer.
Center Andre Drummond, the most heralded of UConn's talented trio of incoming freshmen, made his debut on schedule despite the broken nose and mild concussion he sustained in practice last week.
The 6-foot-11 Drummond, who was wearing a protective mask, scored his first points with a thunderous tip-dunk following a miss by Lamb. He finished with 10 points and four rebounds.
But one of Drummond's fellow newcomers, guard Ryan Boatright was held out of the game as UConn and the NCAA investigate his eligibility. Boatright, who was on the bench and not in uniform during the game, is not being forced to the sidelines for academic reasons, school officials said, but it's unclear what the issue is.
UConn is 42-6 in exhibitions under Jim Calhoun and has won 35 straight. It has now beaten AIC, Calhoun's alma mater, five times in such games over the last six seasons.