University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
2-0,0-0Big East
Coppin State
0-4,0-0MEAC
UCONN MBB ROLLS OVER COPPIN ST. IN XL CENTER RETURN
11/13/2021 3:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HARTFORD, Conn. – The No. 24/23 UConn men's basketball team celebrated its return to the XL Center for the first time in 21 months with an impressive 89-54 triumph over Coppin State on Saturday afternoon.
For the second straight game, the Huskies (2-0) had five players score in double figures as they broke away from the visitors midway through the first half and kept widening the gap until the final buzzer.
Sophomore Adama Sanogo was again UConn's leading scorer, hitting a career-high 20 points for the second consecutive game, on 10 of 13 shooting, while he added 9 rebounds. Sanogo is a dazzling 19-of-24 from the floor in the Huskies' first two games.
Also in double figures against Coppin State was grad student R.J. Cole with 16, senior Tyrese Martin with 15, junior Akok Akok with 12 and junior Jalen Gaffney with 11 points to go with 8 assists.
UConn forced Coppin into 23 turnovers, scoring 28 points off them. In two games, UConn has forced 52 miscues by opponents.
Coppin State (0-4) broke out to a 10-6 lead over UConn in the opening minutes, but a 14-0 run by the Huskies gave them the lead for good. UConn widened the margin to 46-28 at halftime.
The Huskies exploded on an 11-3 run to start the second half to hike the lead to 57-31, leaving little doubt about the outcome.
UConn had 11 players score, while holding Coppin State to 30.8 percent shooting. The Eagles did not have a player reach double figures.
The Huskies' non-conference schedule continues on Wednesday, Nov. 17, when they entertain Long Island University at Gampel Pavilion, with tipoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
