UConn nips Syracuse at Madison Square Garden
NEW YORK - Christian Vital made two free throws with 2.2 seconds to play to give Connecticut a 52-50 victory over Syracuse on Monday night in the Tire Pro Classic at Madison Square Garden.
Andrew White III hit a 3-pointer with 9.1 seconds left to bring Syracuse into a 50-50 tie. Rodney Purvis missed a 3-point attempt for the Huskies but Vital was fouled on the rebound. Syracuse's final chance was a long inbounds pass that was stolen by Connecticut.
Purvis had 21 points and seven rebounds for the Huskies (4-4) while Jalen Adams had 16 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Kentan Facey had a career-high 13 rebounds.
White finished with 14 points for the Orange (5-3), who have lost three of four. Dajuan Coleman had 10 points and a career-high 16 rebounds for Syracuse.
Neither team shot well and that made a lot of rebounds available as both teams finished with 42.
Connecticut finished 16 of 51 from the field (31.4 percent) while the Orange shot 25.9 percent (14 for 54). Syracuse was 6 of 26 from 3-point range and the Huskies were 7 of 25.
Syracuse led 23-21 at halftime. The Orange used an 11-2 run to go up 37-26 with 13:11 to play. The Huskies finally started hitting some shots and they used a 19-7 run to take a 45-44 lead with 6:19 to play. Connecticut led the rest of the way except for the 50-50 tie.
These teams had met at Madison Square Garden many times when they both were in the Big East. The greatest of all their matchups was the 2009 Big East Tournament quarterfinal that Syracuse won 127-117 in six overtimes. Syracuse leads the all-time series 55-38.
BIG PICTURE
Syracuse: The Orange are out of the Top 25 this week for the first time this season. They were 22nd last week and dropped out following a loss to Wisconsin in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. ... With no ranked teams on their schedule until mid-January it will be hard for the Orange to return to the rankings until then. ... Syracuse is playing in Madison Square Garden for the 35th consecutive season. It entered this game 94-76 all-time in MSG.
UConn: The Huskies are going to struggle all season to replace swingman Terry Larrier and guard Alterique Gilbert, both of whom are out for the season with injuries. Both were averaging in double figures when they were injured. ... This was UConn's 115th game at Madison Square Garden. The Huskies entered this game 61-53.
MEET AGAIN
These schools will meet again at Madison Square Garden next December in the 2017 Jimmy V Classic. Villanova and Gonzaga will also meet in one-night event.
UP NEXT
Syracuse: The Orange host the Terriers of Boston University on Saturday.
UConn: The Huskies will make their first trip to Columbus, Ohio, in 33 years to face the Buckeyes on Saturday.