University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Michigan State University
UCONN MBB MEETS MICHIGAN STATE IN B4A SEMIFINAL
11/25/2021 12:49:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Nov. 25, 2021
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – Fresh off a thrilling, double-overtime victory in the quarterfinal round of the Battle 4 Atlantis, the No. 22/21 UConn men's basketball team gets right back to work with a semifinal game against Michigan State on Thursday at the Imperial Arena. The Thanksgiving Day clash is scheduled for a noon start (ESPN).
The Huskies (5-0), off to their best start in eight years, gutted out a 115-109 double-overtime win over No. 19/22 Auburn on Wednesday to reach the tourney semifinals for the third time in as many trips to the Battle 4 Atlantis, but UConn has yet to reach the championship game.
The Huskies hope to change that against Michigan State (4-1), which reached the semifinal with a 63-61 win over Loyola Chicago on Wednesday.
For the fourth time in five games this season, the Huskies had five players score in double figures in their win over Auburn, led by a career-high 30 from sophomore forward Adama Sanogo, who also had 6 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Grad R.J. Cole had a season-high 24 points, and Tyler Polley came off the bench to add a career-high 24, including 6 three-pointers. Freshman Jordan Hawkins was 3-of-3 from three-point land in his way to a career-high 16, and senior Tyrese Martin chipped in with 13 points and 8 rebounds.
Both teams had numerous chances to capture the victory before the second overtime, but the game ended up tied, 83-83, at the end of regulation time and 95-95 after one overtime.
The contest was again deadlocked, 100-100, in the second overtime when UConn took over with a 9-0 run. With under 1:00 remaining, UConn canned six straight free throws – four by Jalen Gaffney – to ice the hard-earned triumph.
Sanogo leads five Huskies averaging in double-figures at 18.6 ppg, while Martin is the leading rebounder at 6.8 and Cole hands out 4.8 assists per game. The Huskies are shooting an even 50.0 percent overall and 43.6 percent from three-point land. UConn is averaging 96.6 points per game.
Michigan State (4-1) lost its season opener to Kansas and has since reeled of four straight wins. The Spartans have three double-figure scorers in forward Gabe Brown (13.0), forward Marcus Bingham Jr. (12.4) and forward Malik Hall (11.6). Bingham is the top rebounder (8.4). As usual, Michigan State has a big, physical club which can overpower opponents.
The other half of the semifinal bracket includes defending NCAA champion Baylor meeting Virginia Commonwealth (2:30 p.m.). The two winners will meet for the Battle 4 Atlantis championship on Friday at 11 a.m., while the two losers will play for third place on Friday at 1:30 p.m. Â
