UConn Prevails Over UCF

Senior guard Christian Vital (1) shared a game-high point total (18 points)
with junior Isaiah Whaley as the Huskies topped the UCF Knights
on Wednesday night at the XL Center.

HARTFORD—The UConn men’s basketball team earned their first win over UCF in the Dan Hurley era, rolling to an 81-65 triumph over the Knights in an American Athletic Conference contest played before 9,480 fans at the XL Center on Wednesday night. Senior Christian Vital and junior Isaiah Whaley shared the team lead with a game-high 18 points apiece, with Whaley matching a career-best in the category. He also posted a team-high 11 rebounds and two blocked shots, while Vital grabbed seven boards and had a team-leading four steals.

Freshman James Bouknight was the third Husky to finish the game in double figures, chipping in 16 points to go along with his seven rebounds.

Collin Smith led the Knights with 17 points, while Ceasar DeJesus was the only other UCF player to put up double-digit points with 14.

UConn got off to a quick start and held an 11-6 lead at the first media timeout. After UCF scored 10 of the next 12 to surge ahead, the Huskies countered with a 9-0 run to regain a 25-18 advantage. The teams traded baskets over the remainder of the half, with UConn holding a 36-32 lead at the break.

The Husky defense racked up seven steals and scored 11 points off eight UCF turnovers in the second half. Baskets from Alterique Gilbert, Vital and Josh Carlton ignited the Huskies, and a three-point play from Vital capped a 9-0 run that allowed UConn to open up a 58-42 lead.

UCF cut their deficit to 11 following Tony Johnson's pull-up jumper but that's as close as they would get. The home team outscored the Knights 11-5 over the final eight minutes of the frame to come away with the 16-point victory.

With the win, the Huskies improve to 16-12 overall (7-8 in the AAC) while the Knights fall to 14-13 (5-10). Connecticut now heads to Greenville, NC, where they will tangle with the ECU Pirates on Saturday.  Tip-off is at 2 p.m., and the game will be televised on ESPNU.

—Staff Reports

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