University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
St. Bonaventure
UCONN MBB MEETS ST. BONAVENTURE IN NEVER FORGET TRIBUTE CLASSIC
12/10/2021 1:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball
FINAL NON-CONFERENCE GAME
UConn Athletic Communications / Dec. 11, 2021
NEWARK, N.J. – The UConn men's basketball team will play its final non-conference game of the regular season on Saturday afternoon, taking part in a unique men's-women's doubleheader as part of the Never Forget Tribute Classic.
The Classic, which helps with education of the children of people lost in the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01, will feature the women's teams from UConn and UCLA meeting at 1 p.m. (ABC) and the men's teams from UConn and St. Bonaventure meeting at 4 p.m. (ESPN2) at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
It is the fifth edition of the Never Forget, which began in 2016 and has been played every season since, except last year because of the pandemic. The UConn men participated in the 2018 Classic, bowing to Florida State.
The No. 15/18 Huskies (8-2) had a three-game winning streak stopped Wednesday at West Virginia in a hard-fought 56-53 defensive struggle against the Mountaineers as part of the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle. They will try to bounce back against a St. Bonaventure (8-1) team that has won three in a row and is 3-0 this season at neutral sites.
UConn is still without the services of two of its starters as senior guard Tyrese (wrist) and sophomore forward Adama Sanogo (abdominal strain) continue to nurse injuries.
Without them, UConn has just one double-figure scorer, graduate guard R.J. Cole (16.1), who is also the team's leader in assists (4.3). Martin is the club's top rebounder (7.7) and Sanogo is third in that category (6.3), so the Huskies will rely on sophomore Andre Jackson (7.2) and grad Isaiah Whaley (5.3) for the boards.
Joining Cole, Jackson and Whaley in the Huskies' usual starting lineup lately are junior Akok Akok and freshman Jordan Hawkins, with Tyler Polley and Jalen Gaffney the first reserves.
In St. Bonaventure, the Huskies will be facing a team that has lost only once this season, to Northern Iowa, and already owns wins over Clemson and Marquette. The Bonnies are coming off an 84-71 triumph over Loyola Maryland. St. Bonaventure boasts five double-figure scorers, led by senior guards Kyle Lofton (17.4) and Jaren Holmes (17.2) as well as three-point threat Dominick Welch (14.5). Senior forward Jalen Adaway is the leading rebounder (7.5).
The Bonnies average 74.9 ppg and less than 10 turnovers per game. They shoot 46.9 percent overall and 34.1 percent from three-point range.
Following Saturday's contest, UConn will have a week off before starting BIG EAST Conference play against Providence on Saturday, Dec. 18, at the XL Center in Hartford at 5 p.m. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
