Huskies Snap Notre Dame's 15-Game Home Winning Streak

Boxscore (.pdf)

Boxscore (.html)

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA (Feb. 24) -- Freshman Rashad Anderson (Lakeland, FL) was unconscious early from behind the three point arc, connecting on 5-6 attempts in the first half and sophomore center Emeka Okafor (Houston, TX) gave Notre Dame fits down low, as the University of Connecticut men's basketball team picked up a big win on the road against BIG EAST foe Notre Dame, 87-79, at the Joyce Center in South Bend, Indiana.

The victory, UConn's fifth in its last six games, improves Connecticut's record to 18-6 overall and 9-4 in conference play, while the Irish slip to 21-6, 9-4 in the loop. 

The Joyce Center crowd was raucous early in the first half and Notre Dame did not disappoint, jumping out to a 17-10 lead on 7-13 shooting at the 15:20 mark.  UConn's defense would clamp down though as the Irish would go 4-27 (15%) for the rest of the half.  The Huskies would take advantage as Anderson came off the bench and keyed a 32-9 UConn run over the next 11:10.  Anderson's fifth three of the half at the 4:20 mark established a new career high for three-pointers in a game. 

UConn took its largest lead of the contest at the 17:11 mark of the second half at 53-36.  Notre Dame would chip away at the lead and pulled to within two at 68-66 with 8:11 remaining thanks to a 30-15 run capped off by a Dan Miller three.  UConn would respond once again as a 7-0 Husky run capped off by Okafor's old-fashioned three point play pushed the Husky lead to 75-66 at 6:20.  ND would get no closer than four the rest of the way as UConn was clutch from the line, hitting on 13-15 free throws in the second half including 10 in a row to finish the game. 

With point guard Taliek Brown (Queens, NY) hindered by soreness in his left knee, the duties were again given to Gordon who was superb, pouring in 25 points and dishing out eight assists.  Okafor continued his dominant play notchng his seventeenth double-double of the season with 19 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots.  Anderson tied his career high with 22 points including 6-9 from deep.  UConn turned the ball over only 12 times, its fewest miscues in the last six games, and the Huskies out-rebounded ND 51-42 including 36-27 on the defensive glass.  Freshman Marcus White (Chicago, IL) contributed to that number with his career-high 14 boards. 

Matt Carroll and Chris Thomas led the Irish with 28 and 19 points, respectively. 

UConn looks to make it four straight against No. 8 Pittsburgh at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, PA on March 2.  Tip-off is set for 4:00pm and will be televised by CBS.