New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Huskies hang tough
Whaley comes up with big plays down the stretch
STORRS — On to Bubbleville.
UConn jumped out to a huge lead against Hartford on Friday night, overcame foul trouble and some hot Hartford shooting and held on for a 69-57 victory at Gampel Pavilion.
The Huskies led 24-7 midway through the first half and appeared en route to an easy victory, after getting more of a battle than anticipated from Central Connecticut State in their season opener two nights earlier.
But the Hawks slowly climbed back, helped by a steady parade to the foul line, and were within three (40-37) after Traci Carter hit a lane jumper about seven minutes into the latter half.
It was UConn senior forward Isaiah Whaley who pushed the Huskies to the finish line, scoring six points (including a pair of thunderous dunks) and coming up with a key blocked shot to allow the Huskies to pull away a bit.
With 4:35 left, Whaley scored on a left-handed transition layup to put the Huskies up 10. He then swatted away a shot by Carter that led to a runout and a driving layup by Tyrese Martin.
After another Hawk turnover, Whaley slammed home a transition dunk to put the Huskies up 12. Hartford would get back to within nine, but never closer.
Whaley finished with a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds). James Bouknight scored a team-high 18 points — though only two in the second half — before fouling out, Jalen Gaffney added a career-high 15
points and R.J. Cole 10.
Moses Flowers led Hartford with 24 points.
UConn (2-0) is slated to face Vanderbilt in its first game of the Legends Classic on Tuesday evening at Mohegan Sun Arena — aka “Bubbleville.”
Behind the hot hand of Bouknight at first, then a brief stretch from Adama Sanogo, the Huskies burst out to a 24-7 start. Hartford missed nine of its first 10 shots.
But UConn encountered foul trouble midway through the half, with Andre Jackson picking up three fouls and R.J. Cole and Tyler Polley two apiece.
The Hawks took advantage, closing out the half on an 11-4 run that brought them to within 12 (38-26) at the break.
Hartford stayed hot to start the latter half, jumping out to an 11-2 start to get within three.
Besides Bouknight fouling out, Cole and Polley (zero points, one rebound) also finished with four fouls. Hartford shot 21 for 27 from the foul line; the Huskies were 8 for 14.
It was Hartford’s first game of the season, after its scheduled season opener against Merrimack was canceled two nights earlier.
RIM RATTLINGS
After having to sit out Wednesday’s season opener because of playing in an unauthorized summerleague game, Martin made his UConn debut. The Rhode Island transfer finished with six points and 10 rebounds.