University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Virginia Commonwealth University
UCONN MEETS VCU ON FINAL DAY OF BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS
11/25/2021 10:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Nov. 25, 2001
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – The No. 22/21 UConn men's basketball team will play for third place in the Battle 4 Atlantis, taking on Virginia Commonwealth on Friday at the Imperial Arena. The game will tip off at 1:30 p.m. and be televised on ESPN2.
UConn (5-1) and VCU (3-3) each were defeated in Thursday's semifinal games – the Huskies by Michigan State, 64-60, and VCU by Baylor, 69-61. Michigan State and Baylor will meet for the Battle 4 Atlantis championship at 11 a.m., before the UConn-VCU game.
UConn and VCU have met only once on the court, a 72-61 UConn victory at the old Greer Field House in the quarterfinals of the 1988 NIT. UConn went on to capture the NIT championship.
The Huskies are led by sophomore forward Adama Sanogo, who is averaging 18.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and shooting 56.5 percent overall. Senior guard Tyrese Martin is averaging 13.8 points and leading the team in rebounding at 7.7. Grad student guard R.J. Cole averages 13.0 and hands out 4.5 assists and grad Tyler Polley is also in double figures at 10.7.
Despite their lowest game total of the season against Michigan State, the Huskies are still averaging 90.5 points a game and allowing just 63.0. They are shooting 47.8 percent as a team and 39.7 percent from three-point range.
In VCU, UConn is meeting a team that averages only 55.2 points per game, but is also only allowing 54.8. The Rams relentless defense is holding opponents to an impressive 31.9 percent overall shooting and just 21.2 percent from three-point range. The Rams gave defending NCAA champion Baylor fits defensively.
Guard Vince Williams is VCU's top scorer, and the only double-figure scorer at 11.7 ppg. Hanson Ward is the top rebounder at 6.2.
In three appearances in the Battle 4 Atlantis, UConn has an even record at 4-4, with one game to play.
Following Friday's game, the Huskies will return home and continue their non-conference schedule on Tuesday, Nov. 30, hosting Maryland-Eastern Shore at the XL Center in Hartford.
