MEMPHIS HOLDS OFF UCONN
Huskies lose first without leading scorer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis coach Penny Hardaway has wanted to spread the offensive load around to other players in recent games. Kyvon Davenport took the challenge, having his best game in weeks.
Davenport scored 26 points, Tyler Harris and Jeremiah Martin added 12 each and Memphis (14-10, 6-5 American Athletic Conference) held off a late push to beat UConn, 78-71, on Sunday.
Davenport had not topped 20 points in the last nine games and Hardaway had said other players needed to help out Martin, a senior, with the scoring load.
“Everything is set up for him to go out and do that. He just has to produce,” Hardaway said when asked how to keep the 6-foot-8 Davenport engaged. The Memphis coach added that the Tigers offense is set up to get Davenport the ball in areas where he is comfortable. “The rest is up to him. Today, he decided to come and be more aggressive to the basket and he did that.”
For UConn, it was a day that started slowly and, despite several rallies to pull close to the Tigers, the Huskies never could overtake Memphis, which took the lead to 14 in the first half and 16 in the second.
“We’re a young team. They’re a veteran team,” Huskies coach Dan Hurley said, later adding: “(Memphis) emotionally was probably a little bit more ready to play. And I think it also took us a little bit of time to gauge their athleticism. Their athleticism took a little bit for us to get adjusted to.”
The Huskies were playing their first game since leading-scorer Jalen Adams (17 points per game) suffered a left knee injury that will keep him out of action for 4-6 weeks. That meant adjustments for UConn offensively.
HOUSTON 65, CINCINNATI 58
DeJon Jarreau scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half, Corey Davis Jr. also notched 16 and No. 12 Houston held off No. 25 Cincinnati, 65-58.
Jarreau added eight rebounds and five assists. He scored 11 consecutive points in the second half, including six straight to give Houston a 63-58 lead with 3 ½ minutes left. Davis and Jarreau each made free throws in the final 20 seconds to seal it for the Cougars (23-1, 10-1 American Athletic Conference).
Galen Robinson Jr. scored 10 points for Houston, which won its eighth straight and extended its home winning streak to 32 games. Houston shot 49% from the field.
Jarron Cumberland scored 27 points on 9-of-25 shooting, and Cane Broome added 10 points for Cincinnati (20-4, 9-2), which had its eight-game winning streak snapped. The Bearcats shot 33% from the field, including 27% in the second half.