UConn Forces Overtime, Downs Boston College 79-77

(boxscore)

HARTFORD, CT (February 16, 2002) - Connecticut erased a 10-point deficit behind Taliek Brown (So., Queens, NY) in the final 2:47 of regulation and  hung on to defeat Boston College in overtime, 79-77, in a BIG EAST Conference game before a sellout crowd of 16,294 at the Hartford Civic Center.

The Huskies improved to 17-6 overall and 9-3 in the BIG EAST East Division, while Boston College slipped to 17-8 and evened their conference record at 6-6.

UConn trailed 69-59 with 2:47 to play before a furious Husky rally forced an extra session. Brown scored eight of his 13 points in the decisive run. The Huskies actually led 73-71 on a fast break lay up by Caron Butler (So., Racine, WI) with 9.1 seconds left to go. However, Shamon Tooles (So., Coatesville, PA) fouled BC’s Troy Bell with 1.8 seconds to play. Bell converted on both free throws to force overtime.

In overtime Connecticut missed four of their final six free throws after Tooles had given UConn a 75-73 lead with 4:41 to go. The Eagles got to within one  at 78-77 with 1:24 remaining on a lay up by Uka Agbai, but Bell turned the ball over as time expired and the Huskies escaped with the win.

Butler and Tony Robertson (Jr., Providence, RI) led the Huskies with 19 points a piece. Freshman center Emeka Okafor (Houston, TX) narrowly missed a triple-double with nine points, a game-high 11 rebounds and a career-high tying nine blocks. Brown dished out a game-high six assists. Bell led the Eagles with 27 and Ryan Sidney added 20.

The Huskies return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 19, as they travel to our nation’s capital to take on Georgetown at the MCI Center. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. and will be televised nationally by espn2.