UConn rallies, upends top-ranked Texas
By Bud L. Ellis
Things haven’t been easy for the Connecticut Huskies this season. From losing games at an unaccustomed rate to losing head coach Jim Calhoun Tuesday to a medical leave of absence, 2009-10 has been anything but smooth for the storied program.
But Saturday at the XL Center, the Huskies showed they still are talented enough to play with – and beat – the best in the nation.
That’s exactly what No. 21 UConn did, rallying from an eight-point halftime deficit to trip up No. 1-ranked Texas, 88-74.
The final 20 minutes belonged to the Huskies, who improve to 13-6 on the season. UConn outscored the Longhorns 54-32 in the second half for its second win in a row following a three-game losing streak.
Jerome Dyson led the charge, hitting 12-of-23 from the floor (including four 3-pointers) to score a game-high 32 points. Kemba Walker shined brightly, going for 19 points along with 10 assists and six steals. Stanley Robinson scored 17 with 12 rebounds, and Ater Majok blocked four shots.
Gavin Edwards added 11 points off the bench for the Huskies, who shot 54 percent and clamped down on the Longhorns defensively in the second half. As rough as the season has been for UConn, it’s been just as rocky for Texas this week, which lost its first game of the season Monday to Kansas State.
UConn, sitting in the middle of the rugged Big East standings at 3-3, travels to Providence on Wednesday.
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Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 8:24 pm by bud
Tags: Ater Majok, Big East, Connecticut Huskies, Gavin Edwards, Jerome Dyson, Jim Calhoun, Kansas State, Kemba Walker, Providence, Stanley Robinson, Texas, XL Center
