University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
18-12,9-8AAC
University of Houston
22-8,12-5AAC
Huskies Triumph over No. 21 Houston, 77-71
3/5/2020 10:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball
STORRS, Conn. – The UConn men's basketball team pushed its win streak to four games with a 77-71 victory over the 21st-ranked Houston Cougars Thursday night at Gampel Pavilion.
Senior Christian Vital led the way with 26 points, including 19 in the second half. Sophomore James Bouknight scored 11 of his 17 points in the second and pulled down seven boards, with Isaiah Whaley rounding out the trio of double figure scorers with 13 points to go along with five rebounds.
Houston scored the first five points of the game before a 16-0 run gave the Huskies an 11-point lead almost midway through the half. UConn led 27-20 following a triple from Alterique Gilbert at the 4:38 mark, but a Houston run to end the half gave the Cougars the lead at the break, 37-30.
Whaley got things going for the Huskies in the second half with a layup inside and Bouknight followed with six straight points, including a four-point play, that brought UConn within 39-38. Back-and-forth action ensued over the next several minutes as neither team was able to keep the other at bay until the Huskies opened a 66-55 advantage with 3:12 to go following a 15-2 run.
Houston didn't go quietly, cutting the UConn lead to five (0:35) and then four (0:32) following three's on back-to-back trips. Vital would made eight free throws down the stretch, including four in the final 30 seconds to preserve the win.
