UConn tops DePaul, finishes third in Big East NO. 18 UCONN 75 DEPAUL 68
STORRS — They’re No. 3!
OK, that hasn’t exactly been the UConn men’s basketball team’s rallying cry this season. The Huskies have loftier goals.
But UConn put the finishing touches on a strong regular season with a 75-68 win over DePaul on Senior Day Saturday at Gampel Pavilion, clinching third place in the Big East standings and the No. 3 seed in next week’s conference tournament at Madison Square Garden.
Adama Sanogo, fresh off being named as a finalist for the Kareem Abdul Jabbar Center of the Year award, made more like Tim Duncan with deft inside moves en route to 26 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out.
UConn (22-8, 13-6 Big East) led by 11 at halftime, and when it pushed its lead up to 18 midway through the second half, the only remaining drama appeared to be when the four senior starters would walk off the floor for the final time — and when would senior walk-on Matt Garry make a much-anticipated appearance.
Alas, DePaul (15-15, 6-14 Big East) wouldn’t go away, closing to within five a couple of times within the final two minutes, with a chance to get within four with 1:09 left. However, Javon Freeman-Liberty made one of two free throws to get within 73-68, and though the Blue Demons had a chance to get within two on a David Jones 3-pointer, the shot was off the mark, Tyler Polley made a pair of free throws, and UConn survived.
UConn’s five senior players were honored prior to the game, and most came through in ostensibly the final home game of their careers. Tyrese Martin notched a double-double (19 points, 16 rebounds), Isaiah Whaley added 10 points and six boards and Polley, getting his first start of the season but 61st of his career, added eight points.
Team leading scorer R.J. Cole was held to just three
points on 1-for-9 shooting, but the Huskies still persevered.
And despite “We want Garry!” chants that began midway through the second half, Garry, the Southington product, never got a chance to get into the game.
UConn clinched third thanks to its win, coupled with Creighton’s loss to Seton Hall earlier Saturday afternoon in Omaha, Nebraska. UConn and Creighton entered the day with identical 12-6 records, but if the Bluejays beat Seton Hall, they would have finished third thanks to a pair of wins over the Huskies this season.
Alas, Seton Hall’s win (and UConn’s) made that scenario moot.
UConn will begin Big East tourney play on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. at the Garden against either Seton Hall, Marquette or lastplace Georgetown.
Sanogo had 20 points by halftime, his 20th coming off a beautiful no-look pass by Andre Jackson for a layup to just beat the buzzer. The Huskies led 40-29 at the break and looked in control.
Freeman, who entered the game averaging 21.9 points per game, finished with 22 on 8-for-18 shooting — mostly coming within the game’s final minutes. Jackson and Martin took turns guarding the highscoring guard.
RIM RATTLINGS
Whaley moved into UConn’s all-time top-five for games played with the 135th of his career. He’s now tied for fifth with Denham Brown and Tyler Olander, and still conceivably catch Shabazz Napier (143), Kevin Freeman (140), Niels Giffey (139) and Jake Voskuhl (135).
Also honored prior to the game were senior managers Corey Lazarz, Eastford’s Collin Singleton and Winsted’s Dylan Thomson.