University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
19-2,9-1Big East
Providence
14-7,5-5Big East
Castle Leads No. 1 UConn To Win Over Providence
2/1/2024 1:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
STORRS – The No. 1 UConn men's basketball team (19-2, 9-1 BIG EAST) ran its winning streak to nine with a gutty 74-65 victory over local rival Providence (14-7, 5-5 BIG EAST) on Wednesday night at a sold-out Gampel Pavilion. Stephon Castle (Covington, Ga.) scored a career-high 20 points to lead the way for the Huskies in a defensive slugfest.
In a contest that saw six lead changes and five ties, the Huskies found a way despite shooting 40.0 percent from the floor and 4-of-23 from 3-point range. Castle sparked an early second half run that gave Connecticut a two-possession lead, one it was able to hold for the rest of the way.
Tristen Newton (El Paso, Texas) had a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double in the win while Cam Spencer (Davidsonville, Md.) and Alex Karaban (Southborough, Mass.) also finished in double-figures with 15 and 12, respectively. The Huskies have now won 25 of its last 26 games at Gampel Pavilion.
For Providence, Devin Carter and Josh Oduro each had 20 – but Carter needed 18 shots to get there thanks to the stifling defense of Castle.
How it Happened
An early 14-2 Providence run allowed the Friars to build a 16-8 advantage, before a Newton three-point play ended the spurt. The Huskies would re-take the lead for the first time since the opening minutes with a Karaban 3-pointer at the 3:43 mark that put them up 25-24. Connecticut was able to hold that one point lead into the break, taking a 29-28 edge to the half.
Early in the second half, the Huskies went on a 13-2 run that took over four minutes of game time and included 11 points from Castle. The run stretched the lead to 44-36 and force a Providence timeout with 12:57 to go in regulation.
After a UConn timeout with around five minutes to play and the lead at four, Newton came up with a big three-point play to push the lead back to 61-54. The contest stayed tight until the final minute, when Donovan Clingan (Bristol, Conn.) notched a clutch blocked shot on an Oduro jumper to keep the lead at five. From there, the Huskies were able to knock down free throws and extend the lead to its eventual nine-point margin.
Inside The Numbers
- Providence out-shot UConn, 41.4 percent to 40.0 percent
- Neither team found success from 3-point range, with UConn going 4-23 and Providence finishing 4-18
- The Huskies were +7 on the glass, getting 11 boards from Newton and seven from Spencer
- Both sides recorded 11 turnovers and scored 36 points in the paint
News and Notes
- UConn improves to 48-31 all-time against Providence and has won three-straight in the series
- The Huskies are now 12-0 at home this season, a perfect 6-0 in each of their venues
- Connecticut has won the last six games in Gampel against PC
- Castle topped his previous career-high of 17 set against Stonehill on Nov. 11
- Castle became the fifth different Husky this season with a game of at least 20
- Newton's double-double was his fifth of the season
- UConn improves to 46-9 all-time when playing as the No. 1 team in America
- Dan Hurley is now 45-6 as UConn's head coach at Gampel Pavilion
Up Next
UConn heads to the World's Most Famous Arena on Saturday to take on St. John's. Tip-off from Madison Square Garden is set for noon on FOX.
