University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
8-1,0-0Big East
Grambling State
1-6,0-0SWAC
TEAM EFFORT LIFTS UCONN MBB OVER GRAMBLING STATE
12/4/2021 7:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Dec. 4, 2021
STORRS, Conn. – The No. 17/17 UConn men's basketball team overcame the injury loss of two starters with a balanced team effort to roll to an 88-59 victory over Grambling State before 9,159 Saturday afternoon at Gampel Pavilion.
The Huskies (8-1), led by an impressive 18-point, 7-assist performance by grad student R.J. Cole, didn't have the greatest of shooting games, but exploded on a 15-4 run in the last 7:00 of the first half to go into the locker room with a commanding 47-30 lead.
The second half was more of the same as UConn outscored the visiting Tigers (3-6) 11-6 in the opening minutes to increase the margin to 58-36 and were never threatened.
With senior guard Tyrese Martin (wrist) and sophomore forward Adama Sanogo (abdominal strain) sitting out, UConn had nine players log over 12 minutes of playing time and all nine hit the scoreboard.
Cole, the Huskies leading scorer, filled the stat sheet with 18 points, including 10 of 11 from the foul line, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and four steals.
He had plenty of support from freshman Jordan Hawkins, who poured in 15 points, grad Isaiah Whaley added 12 points and 8 rebounds, while junior forward Akok Akok and junior guard Jalen Gaffney each chipped in with 10. It was the fifth game this season in which the Huskies had five players reach double figures.
Grambling State was led by Cameron Christon, who scored 18 points in the first half before suffering a hard fall to the floor and sitting out the remainder of the game.
UConn's 8-1 start is its best since the 2013-14 team began the season at 9-0 and went on to capture the NCAA Championship. Â
The Huskies will play their first true road game of the season on Wednesday at 7 p.m. (ESPN2), when they travel to West Virginia as part of the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle.
