University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
3-2
Xavier University
6-0
MBB Falls to No. 18 Xavier in Double Overtime, 75-74
11/23/2019 4:53:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Four double figure scorers and huge production from its bench unit wasn't enough as the UConn men's basketball team fell to No. 18 Xavier, 75-74, in double overtime Friday night at TD Arena. UConn falls to 3-2 on the season while Xavier improves to 6-0. The Huskies will face Miami in the third-place game Sunday afternoon at 1:00 pm.
Freshman James Bouknight paced the UConn offense with 19 points and four rebounds off the bench. Alterique Gilbert finished with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Tyler Polley and Josh Carlton each added 10 points apiece.
The majority of the first period was a back-and-forth affair as neither team was able to build much of the lead. The Huskies drew within a point, 18-17, on a Tyler Polley jumper at 6:58 and then Isaiah Whaley followed that up with a block on the defensive end. The Musketeers would close the half on a 13-4 run to take a 31-21 lead into the break.
It didn't take long for UConn to erase the double-digit deficit. The Huskies clawed their way all the way back and knotted the score at 35-35 on a Brendan Adams bucket in the paint at 14:21. UConn grabbed brief control of the game and opened its largest lead of the game, 45-39, after Bouknight banked in an off-balance runner in the lane.
The 18th-ranked Musketeers wouldn't go away quietly. Xavier chipped into the deficit, climbing all the way back to cut the deficit to one with 33 seconds remaining. Gilbert sunk two free throws at the line to put the Huskies ahead by three, but Xavier's Naji Marshall dribbled the ball the length of the floor and drained a pull-up 30-footer to knot the score 56-56. Gilbert had a chance to win it in regulation, but his shot attempt was blocked.
The tightly contested play continued into the overtime period. Xavier appeared to have the game in-hand as they held a 55-50 lead with 22 second remaining. The Huskies never wavered, scoring the last five points of the period. Trailing by three, Bouknight grabbed the rebound off a Polley miss and converted a three-point play to send the game into a second overtime.
The second overtime period wasn't much different from the first as the teams traded punches across the five minutes. Trailing by four with 1:23 remaining, Gilbert sunk three free throws after getting fouled on a triple and Bouknight drained a jumper in the paint to give UConn a 74-73 lead.
Xavier's Jason Carter knocked down two free throws of his own on the ensuing trip to give the Musketeers a one-point lead with ten seconds left.
The Huskies had one last chance to win the game but Vital's driving jumpshot fell off the mark.
