Dec. 31, 2010
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Storrs, Conn. -
Kemba Walker scored 24 points and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel scored four points in overtime as fourth-ranked Connecticut rallied from a nine-point deficit to defeat South Florida, 66-61, Friday night before a crowd of 12,599 at the XL Center.
The Huskies are now 11-1 on the season, 1-1 in BIG EAST play. The Bulls drop to 6-9, 0-2 in conference action.
Coombs-McDaniel rebounded a missed dunk by Roscoe Smith and laid it in with 3:27 to play in the extra session to put the Huskies ahead 60-58. After a miss by South Florida's Jawanza Poland, Coombs-McDaniel corralled the rebound. On the ensuing possession, after two offensive rebounds, Walker made a floating jumper in the lane. Coombs-McDaniel and Smith each made two free throws in the final 13 seconds to salt away the victory.
Connecticut had battled back from a nine-point deficit, 46-37, with 10:49 to play. The comeback was keyed when the Huskies went to a zone defense. Walker scored four points in a row, and Alex Oriakhi tipped in a Walker miss to cut the lead to three, 46-43, with 9:01 to play.
The Huskies took their first lead since midway through the first half when Shabazz Napier scored on a fast break lay-up after Walker stole the ball from Poland. Walker gave the Huskies a three-point advantage with a jumper with 1:04 remaining, but Anthony Crater forced overtime with a three-point jump shot with 28 seconds to play. Napier's jump shot at the buzzer was no good for the Huskies.
Walker has now scored at least 20 points in 11 straight contests. He made seven-of-18 shots from the field, and connected on nine-of-11 from the foul line. He added a team-high eight rebounds and four assists. Oriakhi had 15 points and three rebounds for the Huskies, while Napier had nine points and set a career-high with six rebounds.
Augustus Gilchrist led the Bulls with 21 points and eight rebounds. Crater finished with 14 points off of the bench, while Hugh Robertson chipped in with 11 points.
The Huskies were out-rebounded by a 40-35 count, but they committed just nine turnovers, and enjoyed a 21-13 advantage in points off turnovers.
Connecticut returns to the road when they travel to play at No. 15 Notre Dame on Tuesday, January 4. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. and the contest will televised by SNY.