University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
6-1,3-1Big East
Butler
3-6,2-4Big East
Polley Stays Hot, Martin Scores 15 as Men’s Hoops Wins, 72-60, at Butler
1/9/2021 6:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
INDIANAPOLIS - Senior Tyler Polley stayed hot and scored a game-high 19 points in 32-minutes off the bench and junior Tyrese Martin added 15 points and seven rebounds to lead the University of Connecticut men's basketball to a 72-60 victory at Butler on Saturday evening in Indianapolis. With the win, the Huskies improve to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in BIG EAST play. Butler slips to 3-6, 2-5.
Coming off a 23-point second-half performance against Marquette on Tuesday, Polley stayed hot and scored 12 first-half points and was 4-4 from long-range in the first stanza. He was scoreless for the first 14:16 of the second half but scored seven-straight for the Huskies late to seal the victory.
Martin's 15 came on 5-12 shooting and he made all three treys that he attempted. He also contributed three assists and two steals in 31-minutes of action.
"He showed that he can be a really important guy in our program," head coach Dan Hurley said.
Senior Isaiah Whaley and junior Brendan Adams each chipped in with nine points.
Sophomore Akok Akok made his first appearance on the floor since suffering an Achilles injury on February 16, 2020. He quickly made his presence known with a dunk and played a total of six minutes on Saturday.
"This was a special day and I've been waiting for this for a long time, Akok said." "I want to use this as a game under my belt and go from here."
The Huskies built a 33-28 lead at the half and seized control of the game by scoring the first six points of the second stanza. UConn would eventually extend the lead to 19 points, 56-37, after outscoring the Bulldogs 23-9 in the first 9:40 of the second half.
"Getting a win on the road in conference is obviously important; for us the last few days with everything going on with James' injury that we respond today and show as a program that we are able to focus and compartmentalize, and play a winning style of basketball," Hurley said.
The Huskies led for virtually the entire first half and extended a four-point edge to 10 on the strength of six-straight points late in the first frame. Butler would answer with a 7-2 spurt over the final 2:54 and whittled the UConn lead to five points, 33-28, at the break.
UConn once again won the battle of the boards, 30-27, and held a 9-6 edge on the offensive glass. The Huskies also forced the Bulldogs, a team that averages just over 10 turnovers per game, into 15 miscues on Saturday.
UConn returns to action when it remains on the road to square-off against DePaul on Monday in Chicago. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET and the contest will be televised nationally on FS1.
