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Monday, Nov. 22 7:00pm ET
UConn fends off poor-shooting UMass | |||||
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BOX SCORE
STORRS, Conn. (AP) -- Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun remembers the old days -- Massachusetts had big post players, Connecticut was trouble from the perimeter. This year, they've swapped styles and strengths as No. 7 Connecticut used a strong inside game to hold off the uptempo Minutemen 79-65 on Monday. Calhoun said UConn (3-1) doesn't look like teams of the past, "we have size inside and we'll play to that." The Minutemen (1-1), led by speedy guard Monty Mack's 26 points, were able to run with the Huskies until they ran into the wall of post players anchored by 6-foot-11 centers Jake Voskuhl, Souleymane Wane and 6-10 forward Ajou Deng. The three accounted for 22 points, 17 rebounds and all seven of UConn's blocks. UConn (3-1) outrebounded UMass 48-39, led by Edmund Saunders' 10 rebounds. "We gave away too many second shots," UMass coach Bruiser Flint said, "and in the end they wore us down." UMass got within 54-51 with 8:46 remaining in the game on consecutive 3-pointers from Mack, Jonathan DePina and Ronell Blizzard. A 3-pointer from Albert Mouring and two free throws from Wane helped the Huskies build a 59-51 lead with 8:23 left. UMass had to resort to fouling at that point and the Huskies made 11-of-19 free throws down the stretch to ice the game. Khalid El-Amin led UConn with 18 points. Saunders and Wane finished with 16 and 14, respectively. The Huskies broke a 5-all tie with a 13-4 run early in the first half. El-Amin fueled the spurt with five points and reserves Wane and Ajou Deng each added four. The Huskies led 37-31 at the half. Kitwana Rhymer had 17 rebounds for UMass. Monday's game was the 102nd meeting between the schools. UConn has an eight-game winning streak against the Minutemen, winning 17 of the last 18 meetings and leads the series 64-38. | ALSO SEE Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
AUDIO/VIDEO Edmund Saunders grabs the rebound. avi: 668 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 Ding scores for UConn. avi: 525 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 Shannon Crooks drives to the hole. avi: 625 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 |