University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
12-4,3-2Big East
Butler
9-8,2-4Big East
UCONN MBB STOPS BUTLER IN FIRST OF BACK-TO-BACK MEETINGS
1/18/2022 10:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Jan. 18, 2022
HARTFORD, Conn. – The first half of the unusual back-to-back, home-and-home series belonged to the UConn men's basketball team.
The No. 25/25 Huskies took control early and never looked back Tuesday night as it rolled to a 76-59 BIG EAST Conference victory over Butler at the XL Center.
The second half of the series takes place Thursday (9 p.m., FS1) as the teams meet again, this time at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
UConn (12-4 overall, 3-2 BIG EAST) put five players in double figures, and had two players register double-doubles in the dominating performance, which gave the Huskies their third win in their last four games. Grad student R.J. Cole led the scoring with 17 markers, while sophomore Adama Sanogo had one double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds, and sophomore Andre Jackson posted the other double-double, the first of his career, with 12 points and 10 boards.
Freshman Jordan Hawkins, with 14 points, and grad Tyler Polley, with 10, were the other double-figure scorers for the Huskies.
While both teams started the game cold from the floor, Cole took charge with driving layups that resulted in free throws, as he mad 8-of-9 in the first half.
Butler (9-8, 2-4) took its only lead of the game on the first basket, but UConn scored the next 10 points and was on its way. The margin grew to 34-17 before the Huskies settled for a 39-24 halftime lead.
Butler made some noise early in the second half, thanks to the three-point shooting of Jayden Taylor (19 points), but never got closer than 11 and the Huskies quickly snuffed out the threat as they coasted to the final 17-point margin.
It is the sixth time this season that UConn has had five double-figure scorers in a game and its fifth game with 10 or more blocked shots.
Following Thursday's game in Indianapolis, the Huskies' will return home to meet Georgetown at Gampel Pavilion on Tuesday, Jan. 25.
