Huskies Host Manhattan For Black Friday Showdown

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HARTFORD - Fresh off a title-winning run at the 2023 Saatva Empire Classic, the No. 5 UConn men's basketball team (5-0) returns to Hartford to play host to Manhattan (3-1) at the XL Center on Friday afternoon. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. on FS1 with John Fanta and Jim Spanarkel on the call.

The Huskies will have history on the mind when they take the floor Friday, as they have won 22-straight games against non-conference foes by double-digits. That streak puts them one double-digit win away from tying the current record, held by North Carolina in a run spanning 2008-10. All five of UConn's non-conference wins over its perfect start this year have been by double-figures, coupled with a perfect 17-0 run against non-conference foes last season.

UConn and Manhattan have a rich history on the hardwood, meeting frequently from their first encounter in 1949-50 through the 1983-84 season. After meeting 32 times during that span the two sides have only met once since, a victory for UConn in 2018. Overall the Huskies are 19-14 in the series.

Connecticut has been led this season by a high-powered offense and a stingy defense, currently ranking among the nation's best in scoring offense, scoring defense and scoring margin. Alex Karaban (Southborough, Mass.) leads the offense with a team-high 16.8 points per game and is shooting 60.0 percent from the floor, including a 40.7 percent mark from 3-point range. He is followed closely in the scoring column by Cam Spencer (Davidsonville, Md.) at 15.8 per game and Tristen Newton (El Paso, Texas) at 15.4 per contest. Newton also leads the Huskies with 7.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game, earning Empire Classic MVP honors at Madison Square Garden on Monday.

Seydou Traore leads the Jaspers with 15.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game as a freshman, while Brett Rumpel adds 12.3 points per game. Manhattan is coached by former Hartford head man John Gallagher in his first season and its coaching staff includes assistant JR Lynch, a former UConn graduate assistant.

Following the tilt with Manhattan, UConn returns to Gampel Pavilion in Storrs to host New Hampshire on Monday, Nov. 27.

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Players Mentioned

Alex Karaban

Tristen Newton

Cam Spencer

University of Connecticut Athletics