UConn bounces back from 1st loss with 91-74 win over Cornell
AP
Nov 20, 2018
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) UConn showed off its depth in the backcourt on Tuesday night as it ran away from Cornell Big Red.
Jalen Adams had 21 points to lead five UConn players in double figures and the Huskies bounced back from their first loss of the season with a 91-74 win over the Big Red.
Christian Vital added 19 points for Connecticut Huskies (4-1), which had four guards score at least 10 points.
Matt Morgan, who came in averaging 25 points, had 26 to lead Cornell (3-3).
The Big Red had little trouble breaking UConn's full-court man-to-man press early in the game and used back cuts to get some easy layups. They were outscoring the Huskies 12-6 in the paint midway through the first half and a layup by Morgan made it 23-20 Cornell.
But UConn scored the next 13 points to take control.
''We had to lock in and keep guys in front of us,'' Adams said. ''We knew we would do a good job guarding them on the ball screens, but the back-door cuts were what was killing us, so we had to eliminate that.''
A steal by Vital led to a step-back jumper from Adams gave the Huskies a 13 point lead and UConn went into halftime up 48-33.
A 3-pointer from Alterique Gilbert gave UConn its first 20-point lead at 55-33.
Cornell was able to cut that to 13 points, thanks in large part to Morgan. But Tarin Smith scored 10 of his 12 points during a second-half run. The Huskies pushed the lead to 87-64 on an ally-oop dunk from Vital to Jalen Adams off a steal by Brendan Adams, which bought the crowd to its feet.
''If we're going to be successful and surprise people this year in terms of our success, the guards are going to have to, across the board, be consistently really, really good,'' said UConn coach Dan Hurley.
BIG PICTURE
Cornell: The Big Red were outscored 44-30 in the paint, after outscoring UConn 18-16 down low in the first half.
UConn: The Huskies had 38 turnovers in their two games last week in the 2K Empire Classic. They had 12 on Tuesday night, while scoring 25 points off 19 giveaways from Cornell.
NBA TALENT
Cornell coach Brian Earl believes Morgan has the talent to play at the next level and then become a coach. The Big Red guard hit on 11 of his 15 shots, including 4 of 6 from behind the arc. Earl said his speed, efficiency and intelligence make him a special player.
''He wants to be an NBA player,'' he said. ''Twenty years ago, when you got knocked around a lot, I don't know if he could have done it. But now things are wide open and he's got a lot of IQ for that, and desire to do it is half the battle.
MOMENT of THE GAME
Vital had a breakaway dunk in the second half that bounced off the rim, went into the air then found its way back into the basket. That, and a few other questionable decisions, had his coach shaking his head on the sidelines.
''He lost his mind with the shot selection a couple of times,'' Hurley said. ''But, he plays so hard. It doesn't make up for it, but you know. Man I wish he wouldn't do that, because he's a good player and he could be a really winning player because he has a lot of heart.''
UP NEXT:
UConn: The Huskies, who were playing the first of five straight home games, ace another mid-major opponent, hosting New Hampshire Saturday in Hartford.
Cornell: The Big Red have more than a week off before visiting Lafayette on Nov. 28.
Copyright 2018 by AP. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of AP is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
COR
Big Red
33
UCONN
Huskies
48
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jumpball received by Connecticut
19:37
+2
Christian Vital made jump shot
0-2
19:11
Shooting foul on Alterique Gilbert
19:11
Josh Warren missed 1st of 2 free throws
19:11
+1
Josh Warren made 2nd of 2 free throws
1-2
18:56
Personal foul on Troy Whiteside
18:51
Christian Vital missed jump shot
18:49
Defensive rebound by Steven Julian
18:22
Lost ball turnover on Josh Warren, stolen by Jalen Adams
18:14
+2
Tyler Polley made layup, assist by Jalen Adams
1-4
17:53
Lost ball turnover on Terrance McBride, stolen by Jalen Adams
17:48
+2
Jalen Adams made layup
1-6
17:30
Bad pass turnover on Josh Warren
17:21
Jalen Adams missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:19
Defensive rebound by Troy Whiteside
16:51
+3
Troy Whiteside made 3-pt. jump shot
4-6
16:45
Personal foul on Steven Julian
16:30
Shooting foul on Josh Warren
16:29
Alterique Gilbert missed 1st of 3 free throws
16:29
+1
Alterique Gilbert made 2nd of 3 free throws
4-7
16:29
+1
Alterique Gilbert made 3rd of 3 free throws
4-8
16:04
Steven Julian missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:02
Defensive rebound by Josh Carlton
15:59
Personal foul on Jack Gordon
15:39
Alterique Gilbert missed layup
15:37
Defensive rebound by Steven Julian
15:28
+2
Troy Whiteside made layup
6-8
15:15
Christian Vital missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:13
Offensive rebound by Connecticut
14:55
Shooting foul on Steven Julian
14:54
+1
Jalen Adams made 1st of 2 free throws
6-9
14:54
+1
Jalen Adams made 2nd of 2 free throws
6-10
14:26
Shooting foul on Tyler Polley
14:26
+1
Jimmy Boeheim made 1st of 2 free throws
7-10
14:26
Jimmy Boeheim missed 2nd of 2 free throws
14:26
Offensive rebound by Cornell
14:23
+3
Matt Morgan made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jack Gordon
10-10
14:09
Tyler Polley missed 3-pt. jump shot
14:07
Offensive rebound by Eric Cobb
14:01
Eric Cobb missed jump shot, blocked by Matt Morgan
13:59
Defensive rebound by Matt Morgan
13:58
Matt Morgan missed jump shot
13:56
Defensive rebound by Tyler Polley
13:43
Bad pass turnover on Tarin Smith
13:25
+2
Jake Kuhn made layup, assist by Josh Warren
12-10
13:11
Alterique Gilbert missed layup
13:09
Defensive rebound by Jake Kuhn
13:00
+2
Josh Warren made layup, assist by Jimmy Boeheim
14-10
12:49
+2
Eric Cobb made layup
14-12
12:29
Shooting foul on Tarin Smith
12:29
Josh Warren missed 1st of 2 free throws
12:29
+1
Josh Warren made 2nd of 2 free throws
15-12
12:18
Shooting foul on Josh Warren
12:15
Tarin Smith missed 1st of 2 free throws
12:15
Tarin Smith missed 2nd of 2 free throws
12:15
Defensive rebound by Jimmy Boeheim
12:06
Traveling violation turnover on Jack Gordon
11:37
Alterique Gilbert missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:35
Defensive rebound by Jimmy Boeheim
11:24
Personal foul on Brendan Adams
11:16
Jimmy Boeheim missed jump shot, blocked by Josh Carlton
11:14
Defensive rebound by Brendan Adams
11:04
+3
Christian Vital made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Brendan Adams
15-15
10:39
+2
Matt Morgan made layup, assist by Jimmy Boeheim
17-15
10:28
+2
Jalen Adams made jump shot
17-17
10:09
+2
Jimmy Boeheim made layup, assist by Riley Voss
19-17
9:53
Brendan Adams missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:51
Defensive rebound by Jake Kuhn
9:47
+2
Terrance McBride made layup, assist by Jake Kuhn
21-17
9:25
+3
Jalen Adams made 3-pt. jump shot
21-20
9:17
+2
Matt Morgan made layup, assist by Jimmy Boeheim
23-20
9:05
Personal foul on Riley Voss
9:05
+1
Josh Carlton made free throw
23-21
9:05
+1
Josh Carlton made 2nd of 2 free throws
23-22
8:48
Jimmy Boeheim missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:46
Defensive rebound by Alterique Gilbert
8:41
Jalen Adams missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:39
Defensive rebound by Cornell
8:17
Offensive foul on Steven Julian
8:17
Turnover on Steven Julian
8:06
+2
Alterique Gilbert made layup
23-24
7:57
Thurston McCarty missed 3-pt. jump shot
7:55
Defensive rebound by Tarin Smith
7:51
+2
Christian Vital made layup, assist by Tarin Smith
23-26
7:39
Double dribble turnover on Matt Morgan
7:25
Jalen Adams missed layup, blocked by Matt Morgan
7:23
Defensive rebound by Jimmy Boeheim
7:17
Lost ball turnover on Jimmy Boeheim, stolen by Tarin Smith
7:10
+2
Tarin Smith made layup
23-28
6:55
Riley Voss missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:53
Defensive rebound by Alterique Gilbert
6:48
Offensive foul on Alterique Gilbert
6:48
Turnover on Alterique Gilbert
6:27
Personal foul on Kassoum Yakwe
6:18
Matt Morgan missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:16
Defensive rebound by Kassoum Yakwe
6:05
Christian Vital missed layup
6:03
Defensive rebound by Jack Gordon
5:59
Jimmy Boeheim missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:57
Defensive rebound by Connecticut
5:38
+3
Tyler Polley made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tarin Smith
23-31
5:14
Jack Gordon missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:12
Defensive rebound by Christian Vital
5:04
Jalen Adams missed jump shot
5:02
Offensive rebound by Christian Vital
5:01
Shooting foul on Riley Voss
5:01
+1
Christian Vital made 1st of 2 free throws
23-32
5:01
+1
Christian Vital made 2nd of 2 free throws
23-33
4:45
Shooting foul on Tarin Smith
4:45
+1
Jack Gordon made 1st of 2 free throws
24-33
4:45
+1
Jack Gordon made 2nd of 2 free throws
25-33
4:32
+2
Jalen Adams made jump shot, assist by Kassoum Yakwe
25-35
4:24
+2
Matt Morgan made layup, assist by Jack Gordon
27-35
4:08
Lost ball turnover on Christian Vital, stolen by Matt Morgan
4:02
Matt Morgan missed layup
4:00
Offensive rebound by Kobe Dickson
3:59
Kobe Dickson missed layup
3:57
Defensive rebound by Connecticut
3:44
+3
Christian Vital made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jalen Adams
27-38
3:24
Lost ball turnover on Kobe Dickson, stolen by Christian Vital
3:18
+2
Jalen Adams made jump shot
27-40
2:55
+2
Josh Warren made layup, assist by Joel Davis
29-40
2:38
+3
Brendan Adams made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jalen Adams
29-43
2:21
Shooting foul on Jalen Adams
2:20
+1
Josh Warren made 1st of 2 free throws
30-43
2:20
+1
Josh Warren made 2nd of 2 free throws
31-43
2:05
Traveling violation turnover on Jalen Adams
1:49
Troy Whiteside missed layup, blocked by Tyler Polley
1:47
Defensive rebound by Brendan Adams
1:39
+2
Brendan Adams made layup
31-45
1:39
Shooting foul on Matt Morgan
1:39
+1
Brendan Adams made free throw
31-46
1:36
Lost ball turnover on Matt Morgan, stolen by Kassoum Yakwe
1:24
+2
Brendan Adams made layup, assist by Christian Vital
31-48
59.0
Traveling violation turnover on Matt Morgan
37.0
Offensive foul on Tyler Polley
37.0
Turnover on Tyler Polley
26.0
+2
Matt Morgan made layup
33-48
0.0
Tarin Smith missed jump shot
0.0
Defensive rebound by Cornell
0.0
End of period
2nd Half
COR
Big Red
41
UCONN
Huskies
43
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:59
Josh Warren missed layup
19:57
Defensive rebound by Christian Vital
19:37
Offensive foul on Josh Carlton
19:37
Turnover on Josh Carlton
19:05
Shot clock violation turnover on Cornell
18:42
Jalen Adams missed jump shot
18:40
Offensive rebound by Josh Carlton
18:35
Shooting foul on Steven Julian
18:35
+1
Christian Vital made 1st of 2 free throws
33-49
18:35
Christian Vital missed 2nd of 2 free throws
18:35
Offensive rebound by Jalen Adams
18:28
Personal foul on Josh Warren
18:26
+2
Tyler Polley made layup, assist by Alterique Gilbert
33-51
18:26
Shooting foul on Jimmy Boeheim
18:26
+1
Tyler Polley made free throw
33-52
18:11
Lost ball turnover on Josh Warren, stolen by Josh Carlton
18:04
+3
Alterique Gilbert made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tyler Polley
33-55
17:34
Personal foul on Josh Carlton
17:31
Jimmy Boeheim missed jump shot
17:29
Defensive rebound by Tyler Polley
17:22
Lost ball turnover on Alterique Gilbert, stolen by Josh Warren
17:18
+3
Matt Morgan made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Troy Whiteside
36-55
17:04
Jalen Adams missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:02
Defensive rebound by Troy Whiteside
16:58
+3
Matt Morgan made 3-pt. jump shot
39-55
16:33
Shooting foul on Terrance McBride
16:33
+1
Alterique Gilbert made 1st of 2 free throws
39-56
16:33
+1
Alterique Gilbert made 2nd of 2 free throws
39-57
16:18
Lost ball turnover on Matt Morgan, stolen by Christian Vital
16:13
+2
Christian Vital made dunk
39-59
15:49
Personal foul on Josh Carlton
15:44
Shooting foul on Jalen Adams
15:44
+1
Jack Gordon made 1st of 2 free throws
40-59
15:44
+1
Jack Gordon made 2nd of 2 free throws
41-59
15:28
+2
Jalen Adams made layup
41-61
15:11
+2
Jack Gordon made layup
43-61
15:00
Bad pass turnover on Alterique Gilbert
14:43
Personal foul on Christian Vital
14:26
Matt Morgan missed 3-pt. jump shot
14:24
Defensive rebound by Jalen Adams
14:18
+2
Jalen Adams made layup
43-63
14:03
Personal foul on Tyler Polley
13:49
Jimmy Boeheim missed layup, blocked by Tyler Polley
13:47
Defensive rebound by Alterique Gilbert
13:42
Tyler Polley missed layup
13:40
Defensive rebound by Jimmy Boeheim
13:35
+2
Matt Morgan made layup
45-63
13:23
Personal foul on Troy Whiteside
13:15
Alterique Gilbert missed jump shot
13:13
Defensive rebound by Jake Kuhn
13:05
Shooting foul on Brendan Adams
13:05
+1
Jack Gordon made 1st of 2 free throws
46-63
13:05
+1
Jack Gordon made 2nd of 2 free throws
47-63
12:52
Lost ball turnover on Jalen Adams, stolen by Troy Whiteside
12:33
+3
Troy Whiteside made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jack Gordon
50-63
12:20
+2
Tarin Smith made jump shot
50-65
12:00
+2
Jake Kuhn made layup, assist by Jack Gordon
52-65
11:45
Shooting foul on Troy Whiteside
11:35
+2
Tarin Smith made layup
52-67
11:15
Lost ball turnover on Jake Kuhn, stolen by Tarin Smith
11:12
+2
Tarin Smith made dunk
52-69
10:54
Shooting foul on Josh Carlton
10:54
+1
Joel Davis made 1st of 2 free throws
53-69
10:54
Joel Davis missed 2nd of 2 free throws
10:54
Defensive rebound by Brendan Adams
10:33
+2
Tarin Smith made layup
53-71
10:11
Jack Gordon missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:09
Defensive rebound by Tarin Smith
10:04
Tarin Smith missed layup
10:02
Defensive rebound by Matt Morgan
9:57
Jack Gordon missed layup
9:55
Offensive rebound by Joel Davis
9:52
+3
Matt Morgan made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Joel Davis
56-71
9:40
+2
Tarin Smith made jump shot
56-73
9:17
Jack Gordon missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:15
Defensive rebound by Christian Vital
9:01
Alterique Gilbert missed layup, blocked by Joel Davis
9:01
Defensive rebound by Matt Morgan
9:01
Lost ball turnover on Joel Davis, stolen by Alterique Gilbert
8:57
Shooting foul on Joel Davis
8:57
+1
Alterique Gilbert made 1st of 2 free throws
56-74
8:57
+1
Alterique Gilbert made 2nd of 2 free throws
56-75
8:52
Josh Warren missed dunk
8:50
Defensive rebound by Tarin Smith
8:45
Shooting foul on Matt Morgan
8:45
+1
Christian Vital made 1st of 2 free throws
56-76
8:45
+1
Christian Vital made 2nd of 2 free throws
56-77
8:33
Double dribble turnover on Josh Warren
8:19
Offensive foul on Eric Cobb
8:19
Turnover on Eric Cobb
8:07
Lost ball turnover on Terrance McBride, stolen by Alterique Gilbert
8:02
Alterique Gilbert missed layup
8:00
Offensive rebound by Tarin Smith
7:55
Tarin Smith missed 3-pt. jump shot
7:53
Defensive rebound by Terrance McBride
7:49
+2
Josh Warren made layup, assist by Steven Julian
58-77
7:30
Christian Vital missed 3-pt. jump shot
7:28
Defensive rebound by Terrance McBride
7:11
Jimmy Boeheim missed 3-pt. jump shot
7:09
Defensive rebound by Eric Cobb
7:01
Tyler Polley missed jump shot
6:59
Offensive rebound by Tyler Polley
6:55
+2
Tyler Polley made layup
58-79
6:39
Josh Warren missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:37
Offensive rebound by Matt Morgan
6:33
+2
Matt Morgan made hook shot
60-79
6:26
Bad pass turnover on Alterique Gilbert
6:15
Jimmy Boeheim missed layup, blocked by Tyler Polley
6:13
Defensive rebound by Alterique Gilbert
6:10
Christian Vital missed layup
6:08
Offensive rebound by Connecticut
6:00
+2
Josh Carlton made layup, assist by Alterique Gilbert
60-81
5:36
Steven Julian missed layup
5:34
Offensive rebound by Cornell
5:28
Bryan Knapp missed layup, blocked by Tyler Polley
5:26
Defensive rebound by Alterique Gilbert
5:22
Christian Vital missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:20
Defensive rebound by Thurston McCarty
5:08
+2
Matt Morgan made jump shot, assist by Steven Julian
62-81
4:47
Jalen Adams missed layup
4:45
Offensive rebound by Josh Carlton
4:41
+2
Josh Carlton made dunk
62-83
4:38
Shooting foul on Alterique Gilbert
4:38
+1
Bryan Knapp made 1st of 2 free throws
63-83
4:38
+1
Bryan Knapp made 2nd of 2 free throws
64-83
4:26
Alterique Gilbert missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:24
Defensive rebound by Cornell
4:15
Lost ball turnover on Bryan Knapp, stolen by Brendan Adams
4:11
+2
Jalen Adams made alley-oop shot, assist by Christian Vital
64-85
3:55
Lost ball turnover on Dean Noll, stolen by Christian Vital
3:52
+2
Christian Vital made dunk
64-87
3:34
+2
Chaz Mack made layup, assist by Bryan Knapp
66-87
3:16
+2
Jalen Adams made layup
66-89
2:53
Shooting foul on Kwintin Williams
2:53
+1
Chaz Mack made 1st of 2 free throws
67-89
2:53
+1
Chaz Mack made 2nd of 2 free throws
68-89
2:38
Brendan Adams missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:36
Defensive rebound by Riley Voss
2:23
Personal foul on Kwintin Williams
2:23
+1
Riley Voss made 1st of 2 free throws
69-89
2:23
Riley Voss missed 2nd of 2 free throws
2:23
Defensive rebound by Kassoum Yakwe
2:06
Kwintin Williams missed jump shot
2:04
Offensive rebound by Temi Aiyegbusi
2:01
Shooting foul on Kobe Dickson
1:59
+1
Kwintin Williams made 1st of 2 free throws
69-90
1:59
+1
Kwintin Williams made 2nd of 2 free throws
69-91
1:43
+3
Chaz Mack made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kobe Dickson
72-91
1:16
Offensive foul on Kwintin Williams
1:16
Turnover on Kwintin Williams
1:06
Thurston McCarty missed jump shot
1:04
Defensive rebound by Kwintin Williams
35.0
Brendan Adams missed 3-pt. jump shot
33.0
Offensive rebound by Kwintin Williams
29.0
Kwintin Williams missed jump shot
27.0
Defensive rebound by Riley Voss
22.0
Kobe Dickson missed layup, blocked by Kassoum Yakwe