No. 4 UConn snaps 2-game losing streak with victory over Creighton
STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Big East preseason player of the year Adama Sanogo scored 26 points and No. 4 UConn bounced back from its first two losses of the season with a 69-60 win over Creighton.
UConn's big man hit 10 of 20 shots, including two 3-pointers, and pulled down nine rebounds. Jordan Hawkins added 17 points for the Huskies (15-2, 4-2 Big East), who won their 17th straight game at Gampel Pavilion, their on-campus arena. Jordan Hawkins had 13 points for the Huskies.
Arthur Kaluma had 14 points to lead Creighton (9-7, 3-2), which had won three in a row, all by 15 points or more. Ryan Nembhard added 12. The Blue Jays 7-foot-1 star Ryan Kalkbrenner, who came in averaging 15.3 points, was held to just nine.
UConn lead by eight points at halftime and extended it to 11 early in the second half on free throws, but had just one field goal over the first 6 1/2 minutes.
A jumper from Trey Alexander gave the Bluejays their first lead of the second half at 43-42, capping a 14-2 run. UConn responded by going inside to Sanogo, who scored the Huskies next eight points.
A 3-point play from Donovan Clingan pushed the lead back to 10 points with nine minutes to play and UConn extended it to 12.
Creighton missed 15 straight field goals, before a dunk by Kalkbrenner cut the UConn lead back to six points with four minutes to play. That was a close as the Bluejays would get.
Hawkins opened the scoring with a left-wing jumper, had the first six Husky points and 11 in the first half.
Sanogo had 14 points before intermission, while holding Kalkbrenner to just three points in the first 20 minutes. Sanogo’s three straight buckets midway through the half while working one-on-one against the Bluejays big man gave UConn a 22-19 lead. The Huskies stretched that to 37-29 at the break after a 3-pointer from Tristen Newton.
BIG PICTURE
UConn: The Huskies came into the game ranked No. 4 in the nation but fifth in the conference following road losses to Xavier and Providence. They'll certainly fall in the rankings on Monday, but it's not clear how far.
Creighton: Ranked No. 9 in the preseason, the Bluejays were the favorites to win the Big East and a popular preseason pick to challenge for a national title. This was their first loss to the Huskies after winning the first five meetings between the programs. The Bluejays are now 2-3 against ranked teams this season.
UP NEXT
UConn: The Huskies travel to Milwaukee to take on Marquette on Wednesday.
Creighton: The Blue Jays travel to Xavier on Wednesday.