Karaban's 26 points lead No. 4 UConn to an 80-67 win over Georgetown and a claim to poll's top spot
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Alex Karaban tied a career high with 26 points and No. 4 UConn made its case to be considered the nation’s top team with an 80-67 win over Georgetown on Sunday.
Cam Spencer added 20 points for the Huskies (15-2, 5-1 Big East) who won their fifth straight game, all without starting center Donovan Clingan, who remained sidelined with a right foot injury. Freshman Stephon Castle added 14 points.
Coach Dan Hurley said the Huskies have earned the right to be ranked No. 1 and embrace the “target” that would come with that.
“We've got the will and the confidence of a championship program, in the brutalist league in the country,” he said.
Supreme Cook had 18 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Hoyas (8-9, 1-5). Jayden Epps added 16 points and Dontrez Styles added 11.
UConn opened the game on a 6-2 run, with 3-pointers from Spencer and Karaban, a harbinger of things to come.
But without Clingan, UConn had a tough time containing Cook. The Fairfield transfer hit his first four shots and scored Georgetown’s first 10 points, keeping the Hoyas in the game early.
Cook had 16 points and 10 rebounds by halftime, but fouled out with more than six minutes left in the game.
“I'm proud of him,” coach Ed Cooley said. “Because he's in there battling. We need some other battering rams in there. The Hoyas have got to do a better job helping him.”
Karaban had five of his six 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes. His fourth of the game gave the Huskies their first double-digit lead at 32-22 and the Huskies led 40-31 at halftime.
The 6-foot-8 sophomore has spent much of his time playing at center with Clingan out, which has created a lot of mismatches on both ends of the floor.
“No one is going to feel sorry for us just because we are missing one of our top players,” Karaban said. “We just have to go out there and just play at a whole other level.”
The Hoyas got within six points in the second half, but could get no closer.
The Huskies shot 51% from the floor and made 13 of their 24 shots from behind the arc.
BIG PICTURE
Georgetown: The Hoyas have lost the past seven meetings with UConn and now trail the series with the Huskies 37-36.
UConn: With the three teams above the Huskies losing this week (Purdue, Houston and Kansas), the defending national champions have a chance to be No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll on Monday.
CLINGAN NEARS RETURN
Hurley said Clingan, who participated in warmups Sunday, won't be rushed back from his foot injury, but the 7-2 sophomore could be ready shortly in limited minutes for the Huskies.
“He has the experience from last year coming off the bench,” Hurley said. “We'll do that initially with him and kind of play him like we did last year - short spurts until he's potentially ready to do starter minutes.”
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Karaban was 9 of 13 from the floor, including 6 of 8 from behind the arc. Spencer hit six of his nine shots and was 5 of 7 from 3-point range.
CONFERENCE WOES
Since winning the Big East Tournament in 2021, Georgetown is 3-44 against conference opponents.
UP NEXT
Georgetown: travels to Cincinnati to take on Xavier on Friday.
UConn: returns to campus to host Creighton on Wednesday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Supreme Cook vs. Samson Johnson (Alex Karaban gains possession) | |||
19:29 | Cam Spencer misses two point jump shot | |||
19:27 | Tristen Newton offensive rebound | |||
19:25 | Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot | |||
19:23 | Jayden Epps defensive rebound | |||
19:05 | Rowan Brumbaugh misses two point jump shot | |||
19:03 | Supreme Cook offensive rebound | |||
18:56 | Rowan Brumbaugh misses three point jump shot | |||
18:54 | Supreme Cook offensive rebound | |||
18:49 | +2 | Supreme Cook makes two point dunk | 2-0 | |
18:26 | +3 | Cam Spencer makes three point jump shot | 2-3 | |
18:02 | Cam Spencer blocks Rowan Brumbaugh's two point layup | |||
18:00 | Samson Johnson defensive rebound | |||
17:42 | Samson Johnson misses two point hook shot | |||
17:40 | Dontrez Styles defensive rebound | |||
17:21 | Tristen Newton blocks Jayden Epps's two point layup | |||
17:19 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
17:15 | +3 | Alex Karaban makes three point jump shot (Stephon Castle assists) | 2-6 | |
16:39 | Hoyas turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
16:20 | Stephon Castle misses two point jump shot | |||
16:18 | Huskies offensive rebound | |||
16:18 | Huskies turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
16:00 | TV timeout | |||
15:51 | Jayden Epps misses three point jump shot | |||
15:49 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
15:43 | Tristen Newton misses three point jump shot | |||
15:41 | Supreme Cook defensive rebound | |||
15:28 | Dontrez Styles misses two point layup | |||
15:26 | Supreme Cook offensive rebound | |||
15:23 | +2 | Supreme Cook makes two point layup | 4-6 | |
15:00 | +2 | Samson Johnson makes two point dunk (Stephon Castle assists) | 4-8 | |
14:47 | Jayden Epps misses two point jump shot | |||
14:45 | Supreme Cook offensive rebound | |||
14:44 | Samson Johnson shooting foul (Supreme Cook draws the foul) | |||
14:44 | +1 | Supreme Cook makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 5-8 | |
14:44 | Supreme Cook misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
14:44 | Tristen Newton defensive rebound | |||
14:21 | Stephon Castle turnover (bad pass) | |||
14:12 | Hassan Diarra blocks Jayden Epps's two point layup | |||
14:10 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
14:06 | Stephon Castle misses two point layup | |||
14:04 | Drew Fielder defensive rebound | |||
13:43 | Drew Fielder misses three point jump shot | |||
13:41 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
13:39 | Dontrez Styles personal foul (Cam Spencer draws the foul) | |||
13:23 | Dontrez Styles shooting foul (Stephon Castle draws the foul) | |||
13:23 | Stephon Castle misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
13:23 | +1 | Stephon Castle makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 5-9 | |
13:02 | Dontrez Styles misses two point jump shot | |||
13:00 | Tristen Newton defensive rebound | |||
12:59 | Supreme Cook personal foul (Tristen Newton draws the foul) | |||
12:37 | Alex Karaban turnover (lost ball) (Jayden Epps steals) | |||
12:31 | Jayden Epps misses two point layup | |||
12:29 | Alex Karaban defensive rebound | |||
12:25 | +2 | Tristen Newton makes two point layup (Alex Karaban assists) | 5-11 | |
11:58 | Alex Karaban personal foul (Supreme Cook draws the foul) | |||
11:58 | TV timeout | |||
11:46 | +2 | Supreme Cook makes two point jump shot | 7-11 | |
11:29 | +3 | Cam Spencer makes three point jump shot (Hassan Diarra assists) | 7-14 | |
10:56 | +2 | Supreme Cook makes two point layup | 9-14 | |
10:56 | Samson Johnson shooting foul (Supreme Cook draws the foul) | |||
10:56 | +1 | Supreme Cook makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 10-14 | |
10:32 | +2 | Alex Karaban makes two point jump shot (Cam Spencer assists) | 10-16 | |
10:14 | +2 | Jayden Epps makes two point layup | 12-16 | |
9:54 | Jay Heath personal foul (Jaylin Stewart draws the foul) | |||
9:40 | Tristen Newton misses three point jump shot | |||
9:38 | Ismael Massoud defensive rebound | |||
9:22 | Drew Fielder offensive foul (Jaylin Stewart draws the foul) | |||
9:22 | Drew Fielder turnover (offensive foul) | |||
9:05 | +3 | Alex Karaban makes three point jump shot (Tristen Newton assists) | 12-19 | |
8:43 | Ismael Massoud misses two point jump shot | |||
8:41 | Dontrez Styles offensive rebound | |||
8:31 | Dontrez Styles misses two point layup | |||
8:29 | Supreme Cook offensive rebound | |||
8:28 | Stephon Castle shooting foul (Supreme Cook draws the foul) | |||
8:28 | +1 | Supreme Cook makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-19 | |
8:28 | +1 | Supreme Cook makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-19 | |
7:58 | Wayne Bristol Jr. blocks Alex Karaban's two point layup | |||
7:57 | Alex Karaban offensive rebound | |||
7:57 | Huskies turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
7:57 | TV timeout | |||
7:30 | Rowan Brumbaugh misses two point layup | |||
7:28 | Alex Karaban defensive rebound | |||
7:25 | Ismael Massoud shooting foul (Stephon Castle draws the foul) | |||
7:25 | +1 | Stephon Castle makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-20 | |
7:25 | +1 | Stephon Castle makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-21 | |
7:02 | +2 | Dontrez Styles makes two point jump shot | 16-21 | |
6:36 | Alex Karaban turnover (lost ball) (Jay Heath steals) | |||
6:29 | Hassan Diarra shooting foul (Supreme Cook draws the foul) | |||
6:29 | +1 | Supreme Cook makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 17-21 | |
6:29 | Supreme Cook misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
6:29 | Stephon Castle defensive rebound | |||
6:00 | Jayden Epps shooting foul (Cam Spencer draws the foul) | |||
6:00 | +1 | Cam Spencer makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 17-22 | |
6:00 | +1 | Cam Spencer makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 17-23 | |
6:00 | +1 | Cam Spencer makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 17-24 | |
5:45 | Hassan Diarra shooting foul (Jayden Epps draws the foul) | |||
5:45 | +1 | Jayden Epps makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-24 | |
5:45 | Jayden Epps misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
5:45 | Tristen Newton defensive rebound | |||
5:25 | Stephon Castle misses two point layup | |||
5:23 | Supreme Cook defensive rebound | |||
5:18 | Jay Heath turnover (lost ball) (Cam Spencer steals) | |||
5:12 | Solomon Ball turnover (traveling) | |||
4:51 | Jayden Epps turnover (lost ball) (Alex Karaban steals) | |||
4:45 | +3 | Alex Karaban makes three point jump shot (Cam Spencer assists) | 18-27 | |
4:33 | Hoyas 30 second timeout | |||
4:32 | Tristen Newton personal foul (Jayden Epps draws the foul) | |||
4:32 | +1 | Jayden Epps makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-27 | |
4:32 | +1 | Jayden Epps makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-27 | |
4:10 | Ismael Massoud shooting foul (Alex Karaban draws the foul) | |||
4:10 | +1 | Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-28 | |
4:10 | +1 | Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-29 | |
3:49 | Jay Heath misses two point jump shot | |||
3:48 | Supreme Cook offensive rebound | |||
3:48 | Cam Spencer shooting foul (Supreme Cook draws the foul) | |||
3:47 | TV timeout | |||
3:48 | +1 | Supreme Cook makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-29 | |
3:48 | +1 | Supreme Cook makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-29 | |
3:32 | +3 | Alex Karaban makes three point jump shot (Cam Spencer assists) | 22-32 | |
3:12 | Jayden Epps misses two point layup | |||
3:10 | Alex Karaban defensive rebound | |||
3:04 | Ismael Massoud shooting foul (Stephon Castle draws the foul) | |||
3:04 | Stephon Castle misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
3:04 | +1 | Stephon Castle makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-33 | |
2:49 | Youssouf Singare shooting foul (Supreme Cook draws the foul) | |||
2:49 | +1 | Supreme Cook makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-33 | |
2:49 | Supreme Cook misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
2:49 | Stephon Castle defensive rebound | |||
2:27 | Tristen Newton misses three point jump shot | |||
2:25 | Supreme Cook defensive rebound | |||
2:16 | Jayden Epps misses three point jump shot | |||
2:14 | Huskies defensive rebound | |||
2:02 | +2 | Tristen Newton makes two point layup | 23-35 | |
2:02 | Jayden Epps shooting foul (Tristen Newton draws the foul) | |||
2:02 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 23-36 | |
1:42 | +3 | Wayne Bristol Jr. makes three point jump shot (Drew Fielder assists) | 26-36 | |
1:38 | Hoyas 30 second timeout | |||
1:17 | Tristen Newton turnover (lost ball) (Jayden Epps steals) | |||
1:13 | Cam Spencer shooting foul (Jayden Epps draws the foul) | |||
1:13 | Jayden Epps misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
1:13 | Jayden Epps misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
1:13 | Jaylin Stewart defensive rebound | |||
0:54 | Alex Karaban turnover (bad pass) (Jay Heath steals) | |||
0:54 | Hassan Diarra personal foul (Jay Heath draws the foul) | |||
0:54 | +1 | Jay Heath makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-36 | |
0:54 | +1 | Jay Heath makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-36 | |
0:51 | Huskies 30 second timeout | |||
0:28 | +3 | Alex Karaban makes three point jump shot (Tristen Newton assists) | 28-39 | |
0:04 | Alex Karaban shooting foul (Jayden Epps draws the foul) | |||
0:04 | +1 | Jayden Epps makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 29-39 | |
0:04 | +1 | Jayden Epps makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 30-39 | |
0:04 | +1 | Jayden Epps makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 31-39 | |
0:01 | Wayne Bristol Jr. personal foul (Tristen Newton draws the foul) | |||
0:01 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-40 | |
0:01 | Tristen Newton misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:01 | Supreme Cook defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |