UConn edges USC

Bouknight, Carlton lead the way for Huskies

UNCASVILLE — Josh Carlton can hide a lot easier after losing some 25 pounds in the offseason, and he was certainly hidden deep on UConn’s bench in its first two games.

But Carlton came up big on Thursday night against USC, grabbing 11 rebounds to go with nine points and helping the Huskies hold off the Trojans 61-58 in a Roman Legends Classic game inside Bubbleville at Mohegan Sun Arena.

James Bouknight led UConn with 18 points, Tyrese Martin added 11 and Isaiah Whaley 10 as the Huskies improved to 3-0 and handed USC (3-1) its first loss.

UConn extended a fivepoint halftime lead to 13 on an impressive, onehanded, putback jam by Whaley a little over 51⁄

2 minutes into the second half. The Huskies, however, went cold after that, missing 14 of their next 15 shots from the floor as USC (which wasn’t exactly scorching the nets, either) pulled to within three following an Evan Mobley free throw with 5:15 left.

Bouknight ended an 0-for-9 UConn drought by

converting a conventional 3-point play. USC was back to within three for the final possession, but Drew Peterson and Noah Baumann missed jumpers, the latter blocked by Whaley. After Isaiah Mobley grabbed a loose ball, Evan Mobley missed on another 3-pointer, and UConn’s

R. J. Cole secured the rebound to seal the victory.

Carlton logged a mere three minutes in the Huskies’ season-opening win over Central Connecticut State last week and, apparently due to the lack of intensity he showed in that game and in practice, didn’t play a single second in the Huskies’ win over Hartford two nights later.

Facing USC’s towering front line of Evan and Isaiah Mobley, 7-foot and 6-10, respectively, Hurley hinted on Wednesday that the 6-11 Carlton would see some time against the Trojans. After freshman Adama Sanogo picked up his second foul about 51⁄

2 minutes into the game, Carlton was Hurley’s first substitute off the bench. He quickly scored on a pair of putbacks, and later added a sweet spin move and an inside bucket for eight first-half points and a team-high seven rebounds.

The Huskies hit their first four 3-pointers, hit a bit of a dry spell trying to figure out USC’s zone defense, then put together a 9-0 spurt late in the half to take a 10-point advantage.

USC got to within five ( 39-34) at the break, after hitting five free throws over the final minute.

Jessica Hill / Associated Press UConn’s Josh Carlton (25) reacts to a call in the Huskies favor during Thursday’s win over Southern California in Uncasville.

Jessica Hill / Associated Press UConn’s James Bouknight, right, is fouled by Southern California’s Drew Peterson, left, as he drives to the basket on Thursday night in Uncasville.