University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
15-2,5-1Big East
Georgetown
8-9,1-5Big East
Karaban and Spencer Lead No. 4 UConn Past Georgetown
1/14/2024 3:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HARTFORD – Alex Karaban (Southborough, Mass.) and Cam Spencer (Davidsonville, Md.) combined for 46 points to lead the No. 4 UConn men's basketball team (15-2, 5-1 BIG EAST) to an 80-67 victory over Georgetown (8-9, 1-5) on Sunday afternoon at a sold-out XL Center. The win for UConn was its fifth in a row.
Karaban tied his career with 26 points in the win, knocking down 6-of-8 from 3-point range. Spencer added 20 and also was extremely efficient from deep with a 5-of-7 effort. Stephon Castle (Covington, Ga.) was the third Husky in double-figures with 14 while Tristen Newton (El Paso, Texas) stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
As a team the Huskies held Georgetown to 34.0 percent shooting for the game, including a 29.2 percent mark in the first half. After a Hoya basket to open the game, the Huskies would go on to lead the rest of the contest. UConn tied its season-high with 13 made 3-pointers in the win and dished out 18 assists on 24 field goals.
How it Happened
After a sluggish start for both sides, UConn got a Karaban 3-pointer to take its largest lead at 27-18 and force a Georgetown timeout with 4:33 to go in the first half. Karaban would go on to make five 3-pointers in the opening half, scoring a game-high 19 in the opening stanza to help the Huskies to a 40-31 lead the break.
The Hoyas stuck around early in the second half, using a 6-0 spurt to pull within six at 52-46. That was the closest GU would get in the final frame, as UConn continually hit big shots to quell any attempt at a Georgetown run.
Inside The Numbers
- UConn shot 51.1 percent (24-47) from the floor and a season-high 54.2 percent (13-24) from 3-point range
- Converseley, the Huskies held Georgetown to a 17-of-50 (34.0 percent) effort overall and a 4-of-16 (25.0 percent) mark from 3-point land
- UConn won the rebounding battle, 33-31, behind a team-high seven boards apiece from Newton and Spencer
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The Huskies out-scored the Hoyas 11-4 in fast break points
News and Notes
- UConn improved to 37-36 all-time against Georgetown with its seventh-straight win against the Hoyas
- The seven-game winning streak in the series is the third-longest in series history
- The Huskies are 5-1 in BIG EAST play for the first time since the 2008-09 season
- Karaban tied his career-high of 26 points, set earlier this season on Dec. 9 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff
- Karaban's 20-point effort was his fifth of the season
- Spencer's 20-point outing was his fourth this year
- Karaban and Spencer became the first Husky teammates to notch 20 points in the same game this season
- UConn improves to 5-0 at the XL Center this season and 9-0 overall at home
- The Huskies are now 11-0 when holding an opponent under 40 percent shooting
Up Next
The Huskies are back at home on campus this Wednesday when they play host to No. 22 Creighton at Gampel Pavilion for $2 Miller Lite Night. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. on FS1.
