No. 24 UConn routs Central Connecticut 99-48 in opener
STORRS, Conn. (AP) UConn coach Dan Hurley wants his offense to run through Adama Sanogo in the low post this season.
The 6-foot-9 sophomore from Mali ran through, past and around Central Connecticut on Tuesday, scoring 20 points and leading the Huskies to a season-opening 99-48 rout of the Blue Devils.
''It's tough to guard me, so basically I score whenever I want,'' said Sanogo, who hit nine of his 11 attempts from the field.
R.J. Cole scored 15 points and Tyrese Martin added 14 for the Huskies, who led by 29-points at halftime and forced 29 Blue Devil turnovers for the game.
''We're one of the hardest playing teams in the country, if not the hardest playing team,'' Cole said. ''And that's our identity - playing hard, getting after it on defense and then the offense will come with it.''
Sanogo opened the scoring with a layup and had six points as UConn jumped out to a 22-5 lead.
The Huskies, who are ranked to start the season for the first time since 2016, made their first eight shots and held the Blue Devils to just two baskets in the first eight minutes.
The Huskies took their first 20-point lead at 34-14 when Akok Akok grabbed a deflection out of the air and turned it into an unintentional ally-oop layup.
Martin's rebound and end-to-end driving layup capped a 15-0 run that gave UConn a 41-14 lead. The Huskies led 52-23 at the half.
Joe Ostrowsky had 12 points and Nigel Scantlebury 11 for Central Connecticut, which finished 5-16 last season and is picked to finish last in the Northeast Conference.
Sanogo scored the first four points as the Huskies opened the second half on a 10-2 run.
''He's a special guy,'' Hurley said. ''And I think from an offensive standpoint, one of the best low-post scorers in college basketball this year.''
The Huskies are 16-0 all-time against the Blue Devils from New Britain.
BIG PICTURE
CCSU: It was the head-coaching debut for Patrick Sellers, who played for the Blue Devils and was UConn's director of basketball operations from 2004-2007 before serving as an assistant under Hall-of-Famer Jim Calhoun from 2007-2010.
''One of my friends always says, once you slide over 18 inches, everything kind of changes,'' he said. ''And it does change `cause everybody is looking at you during the huddle. 'What are we running next? What are we doing here?' But it felt like another game. Obviously we wanted to play better as a team.''
UConn: The Huskies played without sharp-shooting freshman Jordan Hawkins, who sprained his right ankle in practice Saturday. Hurley said Hawkins is day-to-day and could be ready by Saturday or next week at the latest.
BY THE NUMBERS
UConn scored 47 points off CCSU turnovers. The Blue Devils scored four points off UConn's 14 turnovers. The Huskies held a 58-22 scoring advantage in the paint and 30-6 on the fast break. They won the rebounding battle 34-23.
DEPTH
Hurley was able to get 13 players into the game. Eleven got in before halftime and each played more than six minutes in the game. UConn, which lost leading scorer James Bouknight to the NBA, returns nine scholarship players, including 74.3% of the scoring and 78.3% of the rebounding from last season's NCAA Tournament team.
UP NEXT
Central Connecticut plays at Brown on Sunday.
UConn hosts Coppin State at the XL Center in Hartford on Saturday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Â | Ola Olamuyiwa vs. Adama Sanogo (Tyrese Martin gains possession) | Â | |
19:39 | +2 | Adama Sanogo makes two point jump shot (Isaiah Whaley assists) | 0-2 | |
19:37 | Â | Ola Olamuyiwa turnover | Â | |
19:36 | +2 | Tyrese Martin makes two point dunk (R.J. Cole assists) | 0-4 | |
19:14 | Â | Nigel Scantlebury misses two point jump shot | Â | |
19:12 | Â | R.J. Cole defensive rebound | Â | |
19:03 | Â | Jump ball. Andre Jackson vs. Trenton McLaughlin (Blue Devils gains possession) | Â | |
19:03 | Â | Andre Jackson turnover (lost ball) (Trenton McLaughlin steals) | Â | |
18:52 | Â | Trenton McLaughlin misses three point jump shot | Â | |
18:50 | Â | Adama Sanogo defensive rebound | Â | |
18:35 | +2 | Adama Sanogo makes two point jump shot | 0-6 | |
18:16 | +2 | Nigel Scantlebury makes two point jump shot | 2-6 | |
18:04 | +3 | R.J. Cole makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Martin assists) | 2-9 | |
17:37 | +3 | Tre Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Trenton McLaughlin assists) | 5-9 | |
17:19 | +2 | R.J. Cole makes two point jump shot | 5-11 | |
16:55 | Â | Ian Krishnan turnover (traveling) | Â | |
16:41 | +2 | Adama Sanogo makes two point layup (R.J. Cole assists) | 5-13 | |
16:07 | Â | Blue Devils turnover (shot clock violation) | Â | |
15:45 | +2 | Tyrese Martin makes two point layup (R.J. Cole assists) | 5-15 | |
15:43 | Â | Arian Dehnavi shooting foul (Tyrese Martin draws the foul) | Â | |
15:43 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
15:43 | +1 | Tyrese Martin makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 5-16 | |
15:28 | Â | Zach Newkirk turnover (bad pass) | Â | |
15:15 | +2 | Adama Sanogo makes two point layup (Andre Jackson assists) | 5-18 | |
14:51 | Â | Tre Mitchell turnover (traveling) | Â | |
14:36 | Â | Zach Newkirk personal foul (Tyrese Martin draws the foul) | Â | |
14:30 | Â | Isaiah Whaley turnover (bad pass) (Arian Dehnavi steals) | Â | |
14:12 | Â | Andre Snoddy turnover (lost ball) (Tyrese Martin steals) | Â | |
14:09 | Â | Tyrese Martin turnover (bad pass) | Â | |
13:43 | Â | Zach Newkirk misses two point jump shot | Â | |
13:41 | Â | Andre Jackson defensive rebound | Â | |
13:36 | Â | Tyler Polley misses three point jump shot | Â | |
13:34 | Â | Arian Dehnavi defensive rebound | Â | |
13:11 | Â | Joe Ostrowsky turnover (bad pass) (Andre Jackson steals) | Â | |
13:09 | Â | Zach Newkirk shooting foul (Andre Jackson draws the foul) | Â | |
13:09 | +1 | Andre Jackson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 5-19 | |
13:09 | +1 | Andre Jackson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 5-20 | |
12:59 | Â | Jalen Gaffney personal foul (Stephane Ayangma draws the foul) | Â | |
12:50 | Â | Andre Snoddy offensive foul (R.J. Cole draws the foul) | Â | |
12:50 | Â | Andre Snoddy turnover | Â | |
12:31 | +2 | Isaiah Whaley makes two point jump shot (Jalen Gaffney assists) | 5-22 | |
11:58 | +2 | Nigel Scantlebury makes two point hook shot | 7-22 | |
11:36 | Â | Tyler Polley misses two point jump shot | Â | |
11:34 | Â | Akok Akok offensive rebound | Â | |
11:28 | +2 | Akok Akok makes two point tip shot | 7-24 | |
11:16 | +3 | Nigel Scantlebury makes three point jump shot (Joe Ostrowsky assists) | 10-24 | |
11:00 | Â | Isaiah Whaley turnover (bad pass) (Nigel Scantlebury steals) | Â | |
10:55 | +2 | Nigel Scantlebury makes two point layup | 12-24 | |
10:57 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
10:41 | Â | Samson Johnson misses three point jump shot | Â | |
10:39 | Â | Akok Akok offensive rebound | Â | |
10:31 | Â | Akok Akok misses two point tip shot | Â | |
10:29 | Â | Tyler Polley offensive rebound | Â | |
10:28 | Â | Tyler Polley misses two point layup | Â | |
10:27 | Â | Akok Akok offensive rebound | Â | |
10:26 | +2 | Tyler Polley makes two point tip shot | 12-26 | |
10:16 | Â | Trenton McLaughlin misses three point jump shot | Â | |
10:14 | Â | Davonte Sweatman offensive rebound | Â | |
9:59 | Â | Nigel Scantlebury misses two point layup | Â | |
9:57 | Â | Stephane Ayangma offensive rebound | Â | |
9:54 | +2 | Stephane Ayangma makes two point layup | 14-26 | |
9:40 | Â | Nigel Scantlebury shooting foul (Jalen Gaffney draws the foul) | Â | |
9:40 | Â | Jalen Gaffney misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | Â | |
9:40 | Â | Stephane Ayangma defensive rebound | Â | |
9:40 | Â | Jalen Gaffney misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | Â | |
9:40 | Â | Stephane Ayangma defensive rebound | Â | |
9:23 | Â | Ian Krishnan turnover (lost ball) (R.J. Cole steals) | Â | |
9:23 | Â | Ian Krishnan personal foul (R.J. Cole draws the foul) | Â | |
9:09 | +3 | Jalen Gaffney makes three point jump shot (Adama Sanogo assists) | 14-29 | |
8:58 | Â | Trenton McLaughlin turnover (bad pass) (Akok Akok steals) | Â | |
8:52 | +3 | R.J. Cole makes three point jump shot (Jalen Gaffney assists) | 14-32 | |
8:33 | +2 | Jalen Gaffney makes two point layup | 14-34 | |
8:38 | Â | Davonte Sweatman turnover (bad pass) (Akok Akok steals) | Â | |
8:33 | +2 | Jalen Gaffney makes two point layup | 14-34 | |
8:12 | Â | Stephane Ayangma misses two point jump shot | Â | |
8:10 | Â | Akok Akok defensive rebound | Â | |
8:05 | +2 | Tyrese Martin makes two point layup | 14-36 | |
7:44 | Â | R.J. Cole personal foul (Davonte Sweatman draws the foul) | Â | |
7:44 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
7:23 | Â | Blue Devils turnover (shot clock violation) | Â | |
7:07 | Â | Nigel Scantlebury shooting foul (Andre Jackson draws the foul) | Â | |
7:07 | +1 | Andre Jackson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-37 | |
7:07 | Â | Andre Jackson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | Â | |
7:07 | Â | Arian Dehnavi defensive rebound | Â | |
6:57 | Â | Davonte Sweatman turnover (lost ball) | Â | |
6:35 | Â | Rahsool Diggins misses three point jump shot | Â | |
6:33 | Â | Huskies offensive rebound | Â | |
6:33 | Â | Tre Mitchell personal foul (Tyler Polley draws the foul) | Â | |
6:33 | +1 | Tyler Polley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-38 | |
6:33 | +1 | Tyler Polley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-39 | |
6:13 | Â | Tre Mitchell misses three point jump shot | Â | |
6:11 | Â | Isaiah Whaley defensive rebound | Â | |
6:02 | +2 | Tyrese Martin makes two point layup | 14-41 | |
5:45 | Â | Isaiah Whaley blocks Ian Krishnan's two point layup | Â | |
5:43 | Â | Blue Devils offensive rebound | Â | |
5:34 | +2 | Joe Ostrowsky makes two point jump shot | 16-41 | |
5:17 | Â | Tyrese Martin turnover (bad pass) | Â | |
4:55 | Â | Andre Snoddy turnover (back court violation) | Â | |
4:46 | +2 | Andre Jackson makes two point jump shot | 16-43 | |
4:35 | +2 | Tre Mitchell makes two point layup (Andre Snoddy assists) | 18-43 | |
4:35 | Â | Isaiah Whaley shooting foul (Tre Mitchell draws the foul) | Â | |
4:35 | +1 | Tre Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 19-43 | |
4:18 | +3 | Tyler Polley makes three point jump shot | 19-46 | |
3:59 | Â | Jalen Gaffney personal foul | Â | |
3:59 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
3:47 | Â | Joe Ostrowsky turnover (bad pass) (Andre Jackson steals) | Â | |
3:43 | +2 | Andre Jackson makes two point jump shot | 19-48 | |
3:14 | Â | Andre Jackson blocks Stephane Ayangma's two point layup | Â | |
3:12 | Â | Blue Devils offensive rebound | Â | |
3:09 | Â | Joe Ostrowsky misses three point jump shot | Â | |
3:07 | Â | Tyler Polley defensive rebound | Â | |
2:55 | Â | Tre Mitchell personal foul (R.J. Cole draws the foul) | Â | |
2:55 | +1 | R.J. Cole makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-49 | |
2:55 | +1 | R.J. Cole makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 19-50 | |
2:25 | Â | Trenton McLaughlin misses two point jump shot | Â | |
2:23 | Â | Huskies defensive rebound | Â | |
2:23 | Â | Blue Devils turnover (shot clock violation) | Â | |
2:10 | Â | Stephane Ayangma personal foul (Adama Sanogo draws the foul) | Â | |
2:10 | +1 | Adama Sanogo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-51 | |
2:10 | +1 | Adama Sanogo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 19-52 | |
1:49 | Â | Adama Sanogo personal foul | Â | |
1:39 | Â | Akok Akok blocks Stephane Ayangma's two point jump shot | Â | |
1:37 | Â | Adama Sanogo defensive rebound | Â | |
1:29 | Â | Akok Akok misses two point layup | Â | |
1:27 | Â | Blue Devils defensive rebound | Â | |
1:16 | Â | Tyler Polley shooting foul (Ian Krishnan draws the foul) | Â | |
1:16 | +1 | Ian Krishnan makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-52 | |
1:16 | +1 | Ian Krishnan makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-52 | |
0:58 | Â | Rahsool Diggins misses two point layup | Â | |
0:56 | Â | Andre Snoddy defensive rebound | Â | |
0:38 | +2 | Joe Ostrowsky makes two point layup | 23-52 | |
0:30 | Â | Huskies 30 second timeout | Â | |
0:08 | Â | Andre Jackson misses two point jump shot | Â | |
0:06 | Â | Blue Devils defensive rebound | Â | |
0:01 | Â | Davonte Sweatman misses two point layup | Â | |
0:01 | Â | Huskies defensive rebound | Â | |
0:00 | Â | End of period | Â |