University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Xavier
NO. 24/23 UCONN MBB ON THE ROAD AT XAVIER
2/10/2022 11:25:00 AM | Men's Basketball
PLAY 4 GAMES IN 9 DAYS
UConn Athletic Communications / Feb. 10, 2022
The UConn men's basketball team takes on its third straight ranked opponent when it travels to Cincinnati to meet No. 25 Xavier on Friday night at the Cintas Center (7 p.m., FS1).
The No. 24/23 Huskies (16-6 overall, 7-4 BIG EAST) are in the midst of a difficult stretch of four games in a nine-day span, three of them on the road. UConn will play at Xavier Friday night, then must head directly to New York City to meet St. John's Sunday at noon at Madison Square Garden.
The Huskies snapped a two-game skid in their last outing, completing a season sweep over No. 18/19 Marquette with an 80-72 victory on Tuesday at the XL Center. Sophomore Adama Sanogo and senior Tyrese Martin led the way, combining for 42 points and 30 rebounds as each produced a double-double. UConn fought off repeated second-half threats from the Golden Eagles, going on a 10-0 run after Marquette cut the lead to one, and an 8-1 a few minutes later when the margin was sliced to three.
UConn clinched the win with solid free throw shooting in the final minutes.
Grad student R.J. Cole is still the Huskies' leading scorer (16.0) and hands out the most assists (4.5). Sanogo is the second-leading scorer (15.4) and top rebounder (8.4), while Martin is also averaging double-figures (13.5). Together, the three are the highest-scoring trio in the BIG EAST.
Xavier (16-7, 6-6) is coming off a 73-71 loss on Wednesday at Seton Hall. The Musketeers have dropped two straight after winning two straight and are currently tied for sixth place in the BIG EAST.
Xavier also features three double-figure scorers in junior Jack Nunge (12.7), senior Paul Scruggs (12.4) and sophomore Colby Jones (10.5), who is also the Musketeers' top rebounder (7.6).
UConn and Xavier have met only three times overall, with UConn holding a 2-1 edge. Their only meeting as BIG EAST rivals came last season – an 80-72 UConn win in Cincinnati. Â
