University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
24-3,14-2Big East
Creighton
20-7,11-5Big East
No. 1 UConn Falls At No. 15 Creighton
2/20/2024 11:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
OMAHA – The No. 1 UConn men's basketball team (24-3, 14-2 BIG EAST) suffered its first setback in two months with an 85-66 loss at No. 15 Creighton (20-7, 11-5 BIG EAST) on Tuesday night at the CHI Health Center. The Huskies could not overcome a white-hot shooting first half from the Bluejays in front of a sold-out crowd in Omaha.
Tristen Newton (El Paso, Texas) turned in a huge effort for Connecticut in defeat, recording game-highs of 27 points and 12 rebounds along with four assists. The Huskies also got double-digit efforts from Donovan Clingan (Bristol, Conn.) who scored 12 with seven rebounds and Stephon Castle (Covington, Ga.) who chipped in 10 points.
How it Happened
The Huskies jumped out of the chute, with an Alex Karaban 3-pointer capping a 7-0 run to open the contest. The two sides settled in after the fast start for Connecticut and Creighton pulled even with a 3-pointer to level the score at 21-21 midway through the opening stanza.
That 3-pointer was part of nine-straight made field goals for the Bluejays, and an 8-0 run for Creighton gave CU a 29-23 lead and forced a UConn timeout at the 6:48 mark of the first half. Overall, Creighton's run extended all the way to 18-2 to give the Bluejays their largest lead of the first half at 14. That was the advantage CU would take in to the break, holding a 43-29 halftime advantage thanks in part to eight made 3-pointers in the first.
The start of the second half saw more of the same from the Creighton offense, as CU hit its first three from 3-point range to open the period and pushed their lead over 20. A 14-3 run for Connecticut gave the Huskies late life, and CU was forced to take a timeout with 4:29 to play and UConn back within 10 at 74-64. That was the closest Connecticut could pull in the eventual 85-66 setback.
Inside The Numbers
- The Huskies were-out shot 44.1 percent to 54.7 percent but the game's key difference came behind the 3-point line – UConn shot 3-of-16 from deep while Creighton finished 14-of-28
- Connecticut held a slight 32-30 edge on the glass and out-scored Creighton 40-18 in the paint
- The Creighton bench finished with a 14-4 advantage in scoring
- CU finished with 18 assists while holding UConn to eight
News and Notes
- UConn falls to 2-7 all-time against Creighton and 0-4 against CU in Omaha
- The loss snaps a 14-game conference winning streak for the Huskies, tied for the longest in a single-season in BIG EAST history
- Newton's 20-point effort was his sixth of the season, he also notched his seventh double-double of the campaign
- Creighton became the third team to shoot over 50 percent against UConn this season, joining Seton Hall and Kansas
- The 14 made 3-pointers for CU were the most of any Husky opponent this year
- Donovan Clingan has blocked a shot in all 22 games he has appeared in this season
Up Next
The Huskies return home for a Saturday night showdown with Villanova on Feb. 24. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. on FOX. Prior to the contest, ESPN's College GameDay will originate from Gampel Pavilion from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
