The right rout
Clingan leads UConn past LIU; Big East foes up next
STORRS — Bring on the Big East.
As it did throughout much of its non-conference schedule, the UConn men’s basketball did what it had to do (and then some) on Saturday. Namely, beat an overmatched foe into submission.
The fifth-ranked Huskies led Long Island University by 35 points at halftime and rolled to a 114-61 win at Gampel Pavilion. Donovan Clingan scored a career-high 21 points on 10-for-10 shooting, while also grabbing a career-best 11 rebounds. The 7-foot-2 freshman from Bristol dominated the Sharks like he did the likes of Bristol Eastern and Southington the past four years, surpassing his career-high in points with a dunk just before halftime.
Jordan Hawkins added 22 points off a career-best six 3-pointers, and Alex Karaban (career-high 19 points, eight rebounds), Adama Sanogo (16) and Nahiem Alleyne (11, snapping a shooting slump) joined the double-figures party, as well.
Andre Jackson added eight points, seven boards and the highlight-reel play of the day, stealing the ball just under seven minutes into the game, taking it up the floor, going behind his back and springing up for a dunk.
The Huskies improved to 11-0 with their highest scoring output since a 115-109, double-overtime win over Auburn in November, 2021. It was the Huskies first win of 50 points or more since a 93-40 win over this same LIU program, also in November, 2021.
And now, it’s on to the Big East. Beginning on Saturday against Butler at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Huskies’ remaining schedule is their 20-game conference slate. Huge
bouts with Creighton, Xavier, Villanova, St. John’s, Providence, etc. highlight the next 2 1/2 months for UConn.
UConn led 62-27 at the half after shooting 62.5 percent from the floor, including seven 3-pointers. Clingan and Karaban, both freshmen, were a combined 13-for-13 from the floor for the first half as the Huskies dominated LIU (1-8), which is coached by former NBA standout Rod Strickland.
RIM RATTLINGS
Two of the three officials on Saturday were responsible for well-known ejections of UConn coaches in the past.
Wally Rutecki ejected Jim Calhoun from a game against Northeastern in December, 2007, after which Calhoun called Rutecki “incompetent.” Calhoun received a reprimand from the Big East Conference for that comment.
Last February, James Breeding ejected Dan Hurley from a game at XL Center against Villanova after Hurley tried to rile up the crowd after receiving a technical late in the first half. The Huskies wound up coming from behind to beat the Wildcats under associate head coach Kimani Young.
Clarence Armstrong, the third ref on Saturday, has yet to eject a UConn coach.
Former UConn standout ⏩ Rod Sellers was in the crowd, as was Bob Hurley Sr., Dan’s father and a Hall of Fame high school coach.
A moment of silence was ⏩ held before the game in remembrance of Worthy Patterson, the former UConn star and first to play in the NBA who passed away on Tuesday at 91.