University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
1-0,0-0Big East
Northern Arizona
0-1,0-0Big Sky
MBB Rolls To Season-Opening Victory
11/6/2023 9:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
STORRS – Behind a career-high 22 points from Alex Karaban, the No. 6 UConn men's basketball team cruised to a 95-52 victory over Northern Arizona in the 2023-24 season opener on Monday night at Gampel Pavilion. Prior to the contest, UConn unveiled its 2023 National Championship banner in a pregame ceremony. The win came in front of a Gampel-record sellout crowd of 10,299.
Karaban (Southborough, Mass.) led five Huskies in double-figures, followed by Tristen Newton (El Paso, Texas) with 14 points. Both Stephon Castle (Covington, Ga.) and Donovan Clingan (Bristol, Conn.) added 12 points and Samson Johnson (Lome, Togo) was the fifth Husky in double-digits with 11 points.
Making his first career start after starring off the bench last year, Clingan led all players with eight rebounds and three blocks in a 15-minute effort coming off a minor offseason injury. The Huskies got off to a fast start and never trailed, taking a 17-point lead to the break and dominating in the second half en route to the 43-point victory.
Inside The Numbers
- The Huskies shot 56.1 percent from the floor while holding NAU to a 33.9 percent mark
- Karaban's 22 points came on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor and a 3-of-6 effort from distance
- UConn won the rebounding battle 50-27 and pulled down 15 offensive rebounds, led by Clingan's eight caroms and seven each from Karaban and Newton
- Connecticut finished with a 10-4 edge in blocked shots, led by three each from Clingan and Johnson
- Cam Spencer (Davidsonville, Md.) took only three shots but finished with eight points and a team-high five assists in his UConn debut
- Johnson scored his 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and added five rebounds and three blocks in 18 minutes
News and Notes
- The Huskies improve to 91-30 all-time in season openers and 6-0 in regular season lid-lifters under Dan Hurley
- The contest marked the first all-time meeting with Northern Arizona
- Karaban's 22 points marked a new career-high – his previous best was 19
- The Huskies did not allow a 3-pointer for the first 16:00 of game action
- With a 3-pointer at the start of the second half, Spencer eclipsed 1,300 points for his career
- Each of Johnson's five made field goals were dunks
- All 14 rostered Huskies appeared in the contest with six making their UConn debut
Up Next
The Huskies return to action on Saturday, Nov. 11 at the XL Center when they take on Stonehill at 12 p.m.
