University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
3-1
University at Buffalo
2-2
UConn Rides Dominant Second Half to 79-68 Win Over Buffalo
11/22/2019 12:59:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Sophomore Brendan Adams poured in a career-high 20 points, Christian Vital added 16 points, 10 rebounds and five assists and the UConn men's basketball team rode a dominant second-half performance to an 11-point victory over Buffalo in the first round of the Charleston Classic. The Huskies (3-1) move on to the semifinals where they will face Xavier Friday night at 9:00 pm.
In addition to Adams and Vital, Josh Carlton and Akok Akok also finished the game in double figures. Carlton notched a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards while Akok added 11 points and five assists. Freshman James Bouknight scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds in his season debut.
Buffalo came out of the gates hot and jumped out to an early 9-3 lead. UConn responded immediately, grabbing a three-point advantage via a personal 7-0 run by Akok Akok followed by back-to-back buckets from Vital. The Bulls answered with ten straight points of their own to regain a 19-12 lead with just over 12 minutes to go in the opening frame.
The Huskies turned up the defensive intensity over the remainder of the half as they began to climb back into the game. UConn was able to get all the way back and tie the game, 34-34, at the half following Vital's driving layup with four seconds left.
Following a back-and-forth start to the second, three-consecutive free throws from Adams gave UConn its first lead of the half at 40-38, a lead the Huskies wouldn't relinquish for the rest of the night.
UConn got rolling midway through the second half. Carlton got the sequence going with a couple baskets in the paint, Sidney Wilson added a bucket of his own, and then the Huskies opened up their largest lead of the game, 54-45, after freshman Jalen Gaffney connected with Bouknight on a backside lob.
Buffalo attempted to claw their way back into the game, coming within three points, 65-62, with just over four minutes left in regulation. That was as close as the Bulls would get though, as the Huskies closed out the game with timely baskets and stifling defense to secure the 11-point win.
