University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
10-6,1-3AAC
Wichita State University
15-1,3-0AAC
Huskies Fall to No. 23 Wichita State in Double Overtime Thriller
1/12/2020 4:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HARTFORD, Conn. – The UConn men's basketball team left everything they had out on the court but ultimately came up short, dropping an 89-86 double-overtime thriller to No. 23 Wichita State Sunday afternoon at the XL Center.
Five Huskies ended the game in double-figures, led by Christian Vital who poured in 25 points. Freshman James Bouknight tallied 16 points and six rebounds in his first start, Alterique Gilbert added 14 points and six rebounds of his own, and Josh Carlton notched another double-double after scoring 13 points and grabbing 12 boards. Sidney Wilson rounded out the quintet with 12 points off the bench – including the game-tying triple with 1.6 seconds remaining in regulation.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, featuring three ties and eight lead changes through the first 12 minutes of the first half. Wichita State held a 10-point lead with four minutes left in the half, but the Huskies closed the half on a 7-2 run - capped off by Wilson's chase down block and putback slam- to pull within 35-30 and headed into the break with a bit of momentum.
Wichita State found themselves up by 10 at the 11:47 mark but the Huskies continued to claw their way back into the game and blitzed the Shockers with some ramped up defensive pressure. Trailing by seven with 1:01 remaining in regulation, the Huskies extended their pressure defense and knocked down four free throws to pull within 69-66 after forcing back-to-back Wichita State turnovers. After forcing the Shockers into a bad offensive possession, Gilbert drove the length of the court, got into the paint and found Wilson wide open in the corner for the game-tying bucket.
In the extra session Bouknight gave UConn a one-point lead, only for the visitors to retake a 77-75 advantage after Dexter Dennis converted a three-point play. Carlton converted two free throws to knot the game at 77, then the Huskies held serve on defense to send the contest into a second overtime.
Grant Sherfield made a layup while Tyson Etienne and Morris Udeze combined for three points from the stripe to push the Shockers to an 85-81 lead. The Huskies would not go away, as Gilbert made a driving layup and Vital cashed in a deep triple to bring the home side within one with 26 seconds left in 2OT.
UConn had a chance to send the game into a third overtime, but Vital's three point-attempt was long, and Wichita State held on for the win.
