University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
3-0,0-0Big East
LIU
0-3,0-0NEC
NO. 23 UCONN MBB CAPTURES THIRD STRAIGHT WIN
11/17/2021 10:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball
STORRS, Conn. – For the third consecutive game, the No. 23 UConn men's basketball team had five players score in double figures as it put on another dominating performance on its way to a 93-40 victory over Long Island on Wednesday night at Gampel Pavilion.
The Huskies (3-0) had defeated Central Connecticut by 51points in their season opener and thumped Coppin State by 35 in their second game before Wednesday's 53-point margin over the Sharks (0-3). It is the largest margin of victory for UConn since a 103-47 rout of Tennessee-Chattanooga in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
Grad student Tyler Polley came off the bench to lead the Huskies in scoring with 17 points, while sophomore Andre Jackson posted a career-high 14. Sophomore Adama Sanogo and junior Jalen Gaffney each added 11 and senior Tyrese Martin chipped in with 10. Martin and junior Akok Akok led the rebounding with 7 apiece.
It was more a game of defense for the Huskies as they held LIU to a stingy 27.5 percent shooting overall and 12.5 percent from 3-point range. The Huskies blocked 10 shots and forced the Sharks into 26 turnovers, which led to 35 UConn points.
UConn actually got off to a slow start and trailed, 12-9, after the first 8:00, but a three-pointer by Jackson ignited an 18-4 run that put the Huskies in control. By halftime, UConn had built the margin to 38-22.
UConn poured in on in the second half, exploding out of the locker room with a 14-2 run that put the game out of reach, 52-24. The Sharks scored only three field goals in the first 10 minutes of the half.
The Huskies had 12 players hit the scoreboard and dominated the rebounding, 48-30.
UConn continues its non-conference schedule on Saturday, playing host to Binghamton University at the XL Center in Hartford. Tipoff is scheduled for noon.
