National Basketball Association
Connecticut 99, Xavier 56
When: 12:00 PM ET, Sunday, January 28, 2024
Where: XL Center, Hartford, Connecticut
Officials:
# Pat Driscoll, # Matt Potter, # Evon Burroughs
Attendance:
15684
By Field Level Media
Top-ranked UConn looked like the best team in the country during its 99-56 victory over visiting Xavier on Sunday in Hartford, Conn.
The Huskies (18-2, 8-1 Big East) scored the game's first 10 points, led 48-22 at halftime and extended their winning streak to eight games. UConn improved its home record to 11-0 and is 3-0 since moving into the top spot in the Top 25.
Tristen Newton made 9 of 14 field-goal attempts and led UConn with 22 points. Donovan Clingan added 18 points and eight rebounds for the Huskies, who made a season-high 17 3-pointers.
UConn, which shot 58.5 percent from the field (38 of 65), received 12 points apiece from Solomon Ball and Stephon Castle.
Dayvion McKnight led Xavier (10-10, 4-5) with 18 points. Quincy Olivari scored 14 and Desmond Claude finished with 11. Olivari entered the game ranked third among Big East players in scoring (17.9). Claude was 10th (16.2).
The Musketeers made 21 of their 61 field-goal attempts (34.4 percent).
The Huskies went on a 20-0 run in the first half. Castle capped that run with a layup that gave UConn a 38-7 lead with 5:48 remaining in the half. Xavier went 9:04 without a field goal until Olivari connected on a 3-pointer with 3:25 left in the half.
UConn shot 61.3 percent from the field (19 of 31) in the opening 20 minutes, including 7 of 12 from 3-point range. Xavier made 8 of 29 field-goal attempts (27.6 percent) in the half.
UConn led by as many as 44 points late in the second half.
The Musketeers are 1-5 on the road and have lost seven consecutive games against ranked opponents since beating then-No. 24 Creighton 82-60 in the Big East Tournament last season.
UConn hasn't allowed more than 67 points in a home game this season.
It was the second meeting between the teams. UConn won the first matchup 80-75 at Xavier on Jan. 10.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
| Xavier |
|
Connecticut |
|
Dayvion McKnight 18 |
Scoring |
Tristen Newton 22 |
|
Dayvion McKnight 4 |
Assists |
Cam Spencer 6 |
|
Abou Ousmane 6 |
Rebounds |
Donovan Clingan 8 |
|
Dayvion McKnight 4 |
Free Throws Made |
Stephon Castle 5 |
|
Sasa Ciani 1 |
Steals |
Stephon Castle 2 |
|
N/A |
Blocks |
Donovan Clingan 2 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
| Xavier
|
56 |
34.4 |
6-18 |
8-16 |
6 |
27 |
0 |
3 |
14 |
| Connecticut
|
99 |
58.5 |
17-29 |
6-9 |
28 |
40 |
6 |
9 |
10 |
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