Hartford, CT (Sports Network) - Shabazz Napier scored a game-high 27 points to
lead the Connecticut Huskies to a 73-66 overtime victory against the
Cincinnati Bearcats in Big East action at the XL Center.
Deandre Daniels added 17 points and four blocks while Omar Calhoun chipped in
10 points for UConn (18-7, 8-5 Big East) which has won three of its last four
matchups.
Sean Kilpatrick paced Cincinnati (19-8, 7-7) with 18 points and seven
rebounds, Jaquon Parker tacked on 14 points and Cashmere Wright added 10
points for the Bearcats who have lost four of their last five.
After a tightly contested first half, UConn led 37-34 by shooting 45.8 percent
from the floor. Cincinnati was right behind, connecting on 44.8 percent from
the field.
Both teams cooled to less than 35 percent shooting in the second frame. The
Bearcats led, 53-47, with 4:21 left in regulation but a 6-0 spurt from the
Huskies evened the score at 53-53 with 1:30 remaining. Wright then missed a
3-point attempt as the shot-clock expired but Titus Rubles secured an
offensive rebound and hit a layup to push the Bearcats ahead, 55-53, with 49
seconds left. Napier then hit a tough shot around a couple defenders in the
paint to tie the game up. The Bearcats took over with 40 seconds left but the
Huskies pressured them into a turnover when Wright was called for a backcourt
violation. Napier got to the rim but missed a layup in the final seconds as
the game went to overtime.
The Huskies opened overtime with an 8-2 run and never looked back hitting
9-of-11 attempts from the free-throw line in the extra session.
The game featured eight ties and nine lead changes. UConn outscored Cincinnati
17-6 in points off turnovers but was outscored, 34-14, in the paint.
GAME NOTES:
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