UConn Shakes Off Pesky Quinnipiac, 95-79

[boxscore]

HARTFORD, CT (December 21) - Sophomore Caron Butler (Racine, WI) scored 19 points and Emeka Okafor (Fr., Houston, TX) set career-highs in both points and rebounds to lead all five starters in double figures as Connecticut defeated a gritty Quinnipiac squad 95-79 before a crowd of 15, 857 at the Hartford Civic Center.

Connecticut, playing after a ten-day layoff for exams, improved to 6-1 with the win.  Quinnipiac dropped to 3-6.

The Huskies were unable to shake their scrappy opponents, leading just 30-29 with 7:43 to play in the first half, but UConn went on a 15-4 run to take their biggest first half lead at 45-33.  Johnnie Selvie (Sr, Flint, MI) and freshman guard Ben Gordon (Mt. Vernon, NY) led the Huskies with 10 points each in the first half.

UConn was able to separate themselves from Quinnipiac by scoring 13 straight points midway through the second half, taking a 82-63 lead with 9:05 to play, as Butler scored seven points in the decisive run.

Okafor finished with 18 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.  Also in double figures for UConn were Selvie and Gordon, who each scored 15, and Tony Robertson (Jr., E. Providence, RI) who scored 14.  Taliek Brown (SO., Queens, NY) came off the bench to score nine and dish out a game-high six assists.

Quinnipiac connected on 10 of 25 three-pointers, and shot 45% for the game.  Kason Mims led all scorers with 22 points.

UConn was able to control the interior, dominating the boards 45-28, and outscoring Quinnipiac 44-28 in the paint.  Butler and Selvie added nine and eight rebounds respectively.  The Huskies shot 55% for the game, including a blistering 60% in the first half.

The Huskies return to action on Friday, December 28 when they host St. Bonaventure at the Hartford Civic Center.  Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.