University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
9-3,0-1Big East
Providence
11-1,1-0Big East
UCONN MBB BOWS TO PROVIDENCE IN BIG EAST OPENER
12/18/2021 8:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Dec. 18, 2021
HARTFORD, Conn. – The UConn men's basketball team got a sharp reminder of the hard-fought games of the BIG EAST Conference Saturday, battling back from a 16-point, second-half deficit to within two, only to fall, 57-53, to Providence in the conference opener for both teams. A sellout (15,564) crowd at the XL Center in Hartford was on hand.
The No. 20/22 Huskies (9-3, 0-1) suffered through an ice cold shooting game and fell behind 31-22 at halftime, then watched the visiting Friars (11-1, 1-0) build the margin to as wide as 48-32 with 10:41 left in the game.
But a 9-0 run, keyed by sophomore Andre Jackson, got the Huskies back in the game and set the stage for a neck-and-neck race down the stretch.
Providence built the lead back to 55-48 with 3:00 to go, but UConn turned up the defense and came back to within 55-53 on a Tyler Polley three-pointer with 1:46 left. Two UConn shots that would have tied the game or put the Huskies ahead were off the mark, however, and a driving layup by Providence's Al Durham, gave the Friars the final 57-53 margin.swell
Grad student guard R.J. Cole fought through a tough shooting night to lead the Huskies with 16 points and 8 assists, while senior Tyrese Martin, returning to the lineup after missing four games with an injured wrist, had 15 points and 5 rebounds. Jackson cleared the boards for a game-high 14 rebounds to go with 8 points.
A.J. Reeves led Providence with 16 points, while Ed Croswell added 11 points and Nate Watson had 10.
UConn continues its BIG EAST schedule on Tuesday, traveling to Milwaukee to battle Marquette at the Fiserv Forum. Game time is 9 p.m. on FS1.
