University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
13-0,2-0Big East
Georgetown University
5-8,0-2Big East
Calcaterra, Diarra Provide Spark As Huskies Rally To Down Georgetown
12/20/2022 11:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Dec. 20, 2022
UCONN-GEORGETOWN POSTGAME QUOTES
STORRS, Conn. – For 12 games since the season opened, the UConn men's basketball team did not face a deficit in the second half. Heck, the Huskies had never been behind by more then six points in any game.
Tuesday night against Georgetown, they experienced both.
And the result was the same.
Getting a huge lift from its players off the bench, #2 UConn rallied from a seven-point, second-half deficit to run its unbeaten streak to 13 with an 84-73 victory before a sellout (10,167) crowd at Gampel Pavilion.
Grad student Joey Calcaterra provided the spark offensively and junior Hassan Diarra provided the spark defensively as the Huskies (13-0 overall, 2-0 BIG EAST) faced adversity for perhaps the first time this season and fought through it.
"We proved we're not just frontrunners," UConn Coach Dan Hurley said. "It was nice to be in some huddles where there was a little soul-searching and some character. I was thrilled to get into some game pressure and some second-half adversity."
After trailing 47-40 at halftime, Georgetown (5-8, 0-2) exploded out of the locker room on a 14-2 run to take a 54-49 lead as UConn struggled to find its shooting range.
The Hoyas built the margin to 60-53 with 11:00 to go and looked to habe the Huskies on their heels.
But UConn then came alive.
Calcaterra started the rally with a conventional three-point -play, then he hit a reverse layup off a nifty pass from Andre Jackson, then he thew a spectacular, no-look, behand-the-back bounce pass to Donovan Clingan for a dunk and the comeback was on.
With Diarra causing disruptions at the other end, the Huskies' burst was 15-2, eight points of it by Calcaterra, and UConn had a 68-65 lead.
When Georgetown finally stopped the bleeding and came back within 68-65, UConn went on another 10-2 run that widened the gap to 78-67 with 3:37 remaining and was never headed.
"I just thought I had to provide a spark," Calcaterra said. "Things were a little slow and I wanted to get in there and provide some energy. That was what I was focused on."
Calcaterra finished with 14 points, one of four Huskies in double figures, joining Tristen Newton (17), Jordan Hawkins (15) and Adama Sanogo (14). Jackson had 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Primo Spears led Georgetown with a game-high 19 points.
"They have two very good bigs who can score," Georgetown Coach Patrick Ewing said. "Then they have guys who can knock down perimeter shots. I thought we were doing a good job of not giving them those threes, but we kind of exhaled and started giving them the three and thin it was like a dam just burst."
UConn has been touting its depth all season and never was it more in evidence than against Georgetown.
"We had to reach down deep and deal with a second-half deficit," Hurley said. "But those guys (off the bench) really stepped up. Tonight, we don't win without those guys."
The Huskies can enjoy a Christmas break with an unblemished record, but won't have it any easier when they return. UConn faces Villanova on Dec. 28 at the XL Center in Hartford, then travels to Cincinnati for a New Year's Eve day game against Xavier.
