5th-ranked UConn overwhelms UAPB

For most of the first half Saturday, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff went toe-to-toe with the reigning national champions in men’s basketball.

UAPB couldn’t keep it up all game, though, and the Golden Lions fell 101-63 to Connecticut at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn.

UAPB (4-7) trailed 4533 at halftime after outshooting the Huskies from 3-point range, making six to UConn’s three. The Golden Lions also outrebounded the Huskies in the first half, 20-17.

No. 5 UConn (9-1) got its 3-point shooting going in the second half and finished with 13 makes. The real difference-maker was points in the paint, a category in which UConn outscored UAPB 38-10.

UConn forward Alex Karaban led all scorers with 26 points, with three other Huskies in double digits. UAPB guard Rashad Williams led the Golden Lions with 23 points, followed by Joe French and Kylen Milton with 10 apiece.

The teams traded the lead early, with Ismael Plet, Williams and French each hitting go-ahead shots. UAPB led 18-17 with 10:13 until halftime after a Milton 3-pointer. UConn center Donovan Clingan hit a layup and drew a foul, then sank the free throw, which started an 8-0 UConn run. The Huskies led the rest of the game.

UAPB forward Caleb Stokes hadn’t played this season, but he got into the game and broke the Huskies’ run with a 3-pointer. He hit another on UAPB’s next possession, then hit a nice running shot from the baseline a few minutes later. He finished with 8 points.

With 2:34 remaining in the first half, UAPB guard Lonnell Martin Jr. hit a pair of free throws to trim the Huskies’ lead to 33-31.

UConn guard Tristen Newton cleaned up a missed shot with a powerful dunk on the other end, then Cam Spencer made the most of a steal by nailing a 3-pointer, UConn’s third of the game to that point. The Huskies continued to add to their lead with a pair of fastbreak buckets.

Williams momentarily stopped the 10-0 UConn run with a layup in the final minute, but Newton drew a foul with five seconds left and sank both free throws. UConn led 45-33 at halftime, its largest lead of the first half.

The Huskies outscored UAPB 56-30 in the second half, at one point going on a 20-0 run. UConn guard Hassan Diara hit two free throws with 2:35 to play to make the Huskies the fifth opponent to reach 100 or more points against the Golden Lions this season.