University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
St. John's University
Top-seed UConn Faces #5 St. John's On Semifinal Friday
3/14/2024 5:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK – The top-seeded UConn men's basketball team (29-3) is back in action the BIG EAST Tournament with Semifinal action on Friday night, taking on five-seed St. John's (20-12) at Madison Square Garden. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. on FOX with Gus Johnson, Jim Jackson and Kristina Pink on the call.
The Huskies are coming off a 27-point win over Xavier in Quarterfinal play on Thursday, using an explosive second half to pull away with an 87-60 victory. Connecticut shot 78.6 percent in the second frame and set UConn BIG EAST Tournament single-game records for assists (29) and field goal percentage (58.3) In total, six players scored in double-figures for UConn, five recorded at least four assists and five grabbed at least five rebounds.
Tristen Newton led the Huskies with 13 points against Xavier, adding seven rebounds and five assists. He leads UConn across the board this season with 14.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. Cam Spencer adds 14.7 points per game, Alex Karaban adds 14.2 and Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle round out the double-digit scorers with 12.4 and 11.2 points per game, respectively.
UConn is facing St. John's in the BIG EAST Tournament for the first time since 2010, as the Red Storm hold a 4-2 record against the Huskies in the conference championship. Connecticut swept the regular season series this year against St. John's, picking up a 69-65 win in Hartford on Dec. 23 and a 77-64 victory at The Garden on Feb. 3. The Huskies were short-handed in both wins, playing without Clingan in the first meeting and without Karaban in the second.
UConn is playing in its fourth-straight BIG EAST Tournament Semifinal, looking to break through to the championship for the first time since its last BIG EAST crown in 2011. The Red Storm are appearing in their first Semifinal Friday since 2000.
Should the Huskies advance, the Tournament final is set for 6:30 p.m. on Saturday on FOX.
