University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
6-1,0-0Big East
Virginia Commonwealth University
3-4,0-0Atlantic 10
COLE, WHALEY LEAD UCONN MBB TO WIN OVER VCU
11/26/2021 6:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HUSKIES FINISH THIRD IN BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – Beauty may be in the eyes of the beholder, but even the view from the winning side couldn't find many beautiful things in No. 22 Connecticut's 70-63 overtime victory over VCU for third place in the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis.
The No. 22 Huskies (6-1) prevailed in a ragged game that included 80 missed shots, 45 fouls and 36 turnovers. They did so in part by outrebounding VCU 52-35, leading to a 17-10 advantage in second-chance points.
"We're going to look at this tape, and it's going to be a little bit mind-boggling," UConn coach Dan Hurley said. "In a lot of ways we played horrible, but we showed a tremendous amount of will."
While it might not have been a pretty game, it was a close one. VCU (3-4) held a two-point edge at halftime at 28-26, and neither team led by more than four points the entire second half.
The Huskies trailed 54-50 with just over three minutes left, but sank two 3-pointers down the stretch – the second by Isaiah Whaley with barely a minute remaining – to force overtime. The Rams then missed their first six shots in overtime, enabling UConn to build a 65-57 lead.
Senior R.J. Cole was the star for UConn, with 26 points and five rebounds. The Huskies also benefited from the return of Whaley, who had 16 points and four boards after missing the previous game against Michigan State, because of a fainting spell after the previous double-overtime game against Auburn.
"The strength of the team is we have different guys who can step up and have a big game for you, and tonight it was R.J.," Hurley said. "And having (Whaley) back was huge. He's not our best all-around player, but he's our most important player. Missing him yesterday hurt."
Jayden Nunn was the only player to score in double figures for the Rams, finishing with 21 points and eight rebounds.
"I'm proud of our effort. We just couldn't get it done in the end," VCU coach Mike Rhoades said. "You have to make free throws (the Rams were 14-of-24 at the line), and you can't turn the ball over late in the game and in overtime. We gave UConn some life down the stretch with some careless turnovers, and we didn't make our free throws."
The victory gave UConn third place in a tournament that saw the Huskies beat Auburn in double overtime, and then lose in the final seconds to Michigan State before enduring a struggle with VCU.
"We're pretty emotionally spent," Hurley said. "We're thrilled to get out of here 2-1."
UConn sophomore Adama Sanogo was named to the All-Tournament Team after scoring 30 points in the win over Auburn, adding 18 points and 10 rebounds against Michigan State, and 6-point, 7-rebound, 3-assist, 2-steal effort against VCU.
The Huskies return home to continue their schedule on Tuesday, Nov. 30, playing host to Maryland-Eastern Shore at 7 p.m. at the XL Center in Hartford.
