University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
11-0,0-0Big East
LIU
1-8,0-0NEC
UConn MBB Completes Unbeaten Non-Conference Slate With Win Over LIU
12/10/2022 5:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Dec. 10, 2022
STORRS, Conn. – The #5 UConn men's basketball team completed an undefeated non-conference season with an emphatic 114-61 victory over Long Island University on Saturday at Gampel Pavilion.
The Huskies (11-0) dominated every facet of the game as they scored their most points in a game without an overtime in 17 years -- since a 129-61 win over Morehead State on Dec. 23, 2005.
UConn's 11-0 non-conference record is the sixth undefeated non-conference record since the Huskies joined the BIG EAST the first time in 1979-80, and the 11-0 start is tied for the fourth best start in program history.
"You know it's hard to do historical things in a place with all this history," UConn Coach Dan Hurley said. "So to be the sixth team to get through the nonconference undefeated is a great accomplishment for the group. I'm proud of what they've done and excited to get to BIG EAST play."
The Huskies' final 20 games of the regular season will all be against BIG EAST opponents, starting with a trip to Butler on Dec. 17.
It took 2:14 for the Huskies to take the lead against the visiting Sharks (1-8), but from that point on, it was all UConn. The Huskies went from a 5-5 tie to a 25-7 lead in five minutes and 30 seconds, led by the outside shooting of Alex Karaban and Jordan Hawkins.
With Adama Sanogo and Donovan Clingan dominating play on the inside and Karaban, Hawkins and Joey Calcaterra raining three-pointers, UConn ran up its largest halftime lead of the season, 62-27.
The second half was more of the same as the Huskies were never threatened and never slowed down.
"They are just so efficient on both ends of the court," LIU Coach Rod Strickland said. "They are tough, they have shooters, they have bigs. They are obviously in contention for a Big East title."
Five Huskies scored in double figures, led by 22 points by Hawkins, including a career-high six three-pointers, and a career-high 21 by freshman center Donovan Clingan, who went 10-of-10 from the floor and completed his second double-double of the season with 11 rebounds.
Karaban also had a career-high with 19 points, while Adama Sanogo contributed 16 and senior Nahiem Alleyne chipped in with 11.
"I was really looking forward to this game just to bounce back," Karaban said. "I didn't play well against Oklahoma State or Florida, so I wanted to bounce back and build that confidence, especially going into Big East play next week against Butler."
UConn shot 62.5 percent overall and 43.8 percent from three-point range as a team and dominated the rebound battle, 41-24. Led by Clingan, the Huskies got 47 points off the bench.
Clingan's 10-of-10 performance from the floor equaled Kirk King (1/3/96 vs. Providence) for second-best field goal percentage in a game. The UConn record is held by Amida Brimah, who went 13-of-13 (12/14/14) against Coppin State.
"Our guards were doing a good job of driving the ball in the paint, my man stepped up and allowed me to get the step-in dunk," Clingan said. "I'm just trying to position myself in the best places on the court."
Saturday, any place on the court was best for UConn. After an historic non-conference run, BIG EAST play awaits.
