University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
15-4,4-4Big East
St. John's University
13-6,3-5Big East
UConn MBB Bows To St. John's, 85-74
1/15/2023 4:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Jan. 15, 2023
UConn-St. John's Postgame Quotes
HARTFORD – The UConn men's basketball team struggled to put together a consistent effort at both ends of the court Sunday, as it suffered an 85-74 defeat to St. John's before a sellout crowd at the XL Center.
The No. 6/7 Huskies (15-4 overall, 4-4 BIG EAST) managed to hold their own against the Red Storm (13-6, 3-5) in the first half, but couldn't contain St. John's in the second, allowing the visitors to shoot 55.2 percent and pour in 47 points. On the offensive end, UConn couldn't find their shooting range, hitting just 36.4 percent overall and 23.5 percent from three-point range.
The loss tarnished a career-high 31-point effort by sophomore Jordan Hawkins, the first one by a UConn player this season.
"It really doesn't matter because we lost," Hawkins said.
After a 38-38 tie at halftime, St. John's inched ahead of UConn in the opening minutes of the second half and held a 50-45 lead at the 15:00 mark.
The game was still tight, 64-60, with 8:00 to go, but then a 14-2 burst by the Red Storm put the game out of reach, 78-62. UConn could not put together a threat down the stretch.
"I'm disappointed to say the least," UConn Coach Dan Hurley said. "We got out-toughed from the pretty decent start to the point where the game got really chippy. Their program was a lot tougher than our program today. It is obviously very disappointing, and I didn't see it coming. I thought we would play a lot better. We just looked weak and unprepared."
Besides Hawkins, UConn freshman Alex Karaban scored 16 points and junior Adama Sanogo had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. St. John's had six players score double figures, led by senior Joel Soriano with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
UConn returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 18, traveling to Newark, N.J., to meet Seton Hall at the Prudential Center (6:30 p.m., FS1).
