Castle scores 20 as top-ranked UConn beats Providence 74-65 in foul-filled game
STORRS, Conn. (AP) Freshman guard Stephon Castle scored a season-high 20 points and top-ranked UConn held off Providence 74-65 Wednesday night in a foul-filled Big East battle.
Tristen Newton added 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Cam Spencer scored 15 as the Huskies (19-2, 9-1) won their ninth straight in a game that included 48 fouls - 29 of them on Providence.
“These are steel cage matches,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. "Based on how physical the game is, they could have called another 50 fouls.”
Devin Carter and Josh Oduro each had 20 points for Providence (14-7, 5-5). Oduro and Castle both fouled out.
The Friars hit just 13 of their 26 free throws. UConn was 26 for 36 at the line.
“Made free throws are part of discipline and we didn't (make them),” Providence coach Kim English said. “So, we didn't deserve to win.”
UConn led by just a point at halftime and trailed by three early in the second half. But two 3-pointers from Castle, an offensive foul on Carter and a technical on the Providence bench helped spark a 13-2 run that gave the Huskies a 44-36 lead.
“Steph saved us tonight,” Hurley said. “I’m not sure if there’s a freshman in the country, both ends of the court, on the glass, that’s played as well as he played tonight. A man’s game.”
Six players had four fouls with five minutes left and UConn up 58-54.
Jayden Pierre became the first to foul out with 3:43 remaining on a drive by Spencer. His free throws stretched the lead back to eight.
Castle fouled out with just under two minutes left, and Providence again cut the deficit to five.
But after Donovan Clingan blocked a shot, Oduro fouled out on the other end and - fittingly - UConn secured the win from the free-throw line.
Providence entered on a three-game winning streak that followed four consecutive losses after star forward Bryce Hopkins went down with a season-ending knee injury on Jan. 3.
Clingan, who missed almost a month with a foot injury, picked up two fouls in the first four minutes. He played only four minutes in the first half and just under 15 minutes in the game.
With the 7-foot-2 sophomore out, Providence went on a 10-0 run to take a 12-6 lead.
UConn forward Alex Karaban also missed six minutes of the first half after injuring his right ankle. He came down awkwardly after making a driving layup and had to be helped to the locker room. But he was able to return to the floor and hit a 3-pointer that gave UConn a 25-24 lead.
The Huskies led 29-28 at halftime.
“I think it was just one of those Big East battles that we had to gut out,” Spencer said.
BIG PICTURE
Providence: The Friars fell to 2-16 against top-ranked teams. They have never beaten a No. 1 squad on the road.
UConn: The Huskies have not lost in 2024, going 8-0 during January.
UP NEXT
Providence: The Friars travel to Philadelphia for a game against Villanova on Sunday.
UConn: The Huskies head back to Madison Square Garden to face St. John's on Saturday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Josh Oduro vs. Donovan Clingan (Tristen Newton gains possession) | |||
19:29 | Donovan Clingan misses two point layup | |||
19:27 | Josh Oduro defensive rebound | |||
19:06 | Josh Oduro misses two point hook shot | |||
19:04 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
18:58 | +2 | Cam Spencer makes two point jump shot | 0-2 | |
18:26 | +2 | Devin Carter makes two point layup | 2-2 | |
18:04 | +2 | Stephon Castle makes two point jump shot | 2-4 | |
17:39 | Jayden Pierre misses two point jump shot | |||
17:37 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
17:28 | +2 | Stephon Castle makes two point jump shot | 2-6 | |
17:03 | Josh Oduro misses two point hook shot | |||
17:01 | Corey Floyd Jr. offensive rebound | |||
17:01 | +2 | Corey Floyd Jr. makes two point layup | 4-6 | |
17:01 | Donovan Clingan shooting foul (Corey Floyd Jr. draws the foul) | |||
17:01 | Corey Floyd Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
17:01 | Josh Oduro offensive rebound | |||
16:51 | Jayden Pierre misses three point jump shot | |||
16:49 | Huskies defensive rebound | |||
16:49 | Josh Oduro personal foul | |||
16:26 | Donovan Clingan turnover (bad pass) (Josh Oduro steals) | |||
16:17 | +2 | Josh Oduro makes two point layup (Jayden Pierre assists) | 6-6 | |
16:02 | Jayden Pierre personal foul | |||
16:00 | Donovan Clingan offensive foul | |||
16:00 | Donovan Clingan turnover (offensive foul) | |||
16:00 | TV timeout | |||
15:33 | Devin Carter misses three point jump shot | |||
15:31 | Corey Floyd Jr. offensive rebound | |||
15:28 | +2 | Corey Floyd Jr. makes two point layup | 8-6 | |
15:06 | Stephon Castle misses two point jump shot | |||
15:04 | Josh Oduro defensive rebound | |||
14:55 | Samson Johnson shooting foul (Josh Oduro draws the foul) | |||
14:55 | +1 | Josh Oduro makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-6 | |
14:55 | +1 | Josh Oduro makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-6 | |
14:42 | Tristen Newton misses three point jump shot | |||
14:40 | Josh Oduro defensive rebound | |||
14:35 | Devin Carter misses two point layup | |||
14:33 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
14:28 | Cam Spencer turnover (lost ball) | |||
14:23 | Garwey Dual misses two point layup | |||
14:21 | Samson Johnson defensive rebound | |||
14:20 | Hassan Diarra turnover (bad pass) (Corey Floyd Jr. steals) | |||
13:54 | +2 | Josh Oduro makes two point jump shot | 12-6 | |
13:28 | Cam Spencer misses three point jump shot | |||
13:26 | Alex Karaban offensive rebound | |||
13:23 | +2 | Alex Karaban makes two point layup | 12-8 | |
13:03 | Devin Carter misses two point jump shot | |||
13:01 | Devin Carter offensive rebound | |||
12:59 | +2 | Devin Carter makes two point layup | 14-8 | |
12:36 | Tristen Newton misses two point jump shot | |||
12:34 | Devin Carter defensive rebound | |||
12:14 | Samson Johnson blocks Josh Oduro's two point jump shot | |||
12:12 | Friars offensive rebound | |||
12:09 | Ticket Gaines misses three point jump shot | |||
12:07 | Samson Johnson defensive rebound | |||
11:44 | Stephon Castle misses three point jump shot | |||
11:42 | Josh Oduro defensive rebound | |||
11:29 | +2 | Jayden Pierre makes two point layup | 16-8 | |
11:09 | +2 | Tristen Newton makes two point layup | 16-10 | |
11:09 | Josh Oduro shooting foul (Tristen Newton draws the foul) | |||
11:09 | TV timeout | |||
11:09 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 16-11 | |
10:45 | +2 | Rafael Castro makes two point layup (Jayden Pierre assists) | 18-11 | |
10:45 | Samson Johnson shooting foul (Rafael Castro draws the foul) | |||
10:45 | Rafael Castro misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
10:45 | Tristen Newton defensive rebound | |||
10:33 | +2 | Alex Karaban makes two point layup | 18-13 | |
10:33 | Official timeout | |||
10:15 | Garwey Dual turnover (carrying) | |||
9:53 | Samson Johnson turnover (bad pass) | |||
9:42 | Jayden Pierre misses three point jump shot | |||
9:40 | Stephon Castle defensive rebound | |||
9:33 | Tristen Newton misses three point jump shot | |||
9:31 | Ticket Gaines defensive rebound | |||
9:15 | Devin Carter turnover (bad pass) (Samson Johnson steals) | |||
9:11 | +2 | Samson Johnson makes two point dunk | 18-15 | |
8:56 | Devin Carter misses three point jump shot | |||
8:54 | Tristen Newton defensive rebound | |||
8:38 | Jayden Pierre shooting foul (Stephon Castle draws the foul) | |||
8:38 | Stephon Castle misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
8:38 | +1 | Stephon Castle makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-16 | |
8:21 | Devin Carter turnover (bad pass) (Stephon Castle steals) | |||
8:16 | Rich Barron shooting foul (Stephon Castle draws the foul) | |||
8:16 | +1 | Stephon Castle makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-17 | |
8:16 | Stephon Castle misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
8:16 | Ticket Gaines defensive rebound | |||
7:47 | Corey Floyd Jr. turnover (3-second violation) | |||
7:47 | TV timeout | |||
7:30 | Samson Johnson misses two point hook shot | |||
7:28 | Josh Oduro defensive rebound | |||
7:03 | +3 | Josh Oduro makes three point jump shot (Devin Carter assists) | 21-17 | |
6:44 | Jaylin Stewart misses three point jump shot | |||
6:42 | Devin Carter defensive rebound | |||
6:40 | Devin Carter misses two point jump shot | |||
6:38 | Huskies defensive rebound | |||
6:38 | Josh Oduro personal foul | |||
6:11 | Stephon Castle misses three point jump shot | |||
6:09 | Tristen Newton offensive rebound | |||
5:54 | Rich Barron shooting foul (Stephon Castle draws the foul) | |||
5:54 | +1 | Stephon Castle makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-18 | |
5:54 | Stephon Castle misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
5:54 | Corey Floyd Jr. defensive rebound | |||
5:38 | Ticket Gaines misses three point jump shot | |||
5:36 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
5:31 | Stephon Castle misses two point layup | |||
5:29 | Corey Floyd Jr. defensive rebound | |||
5:20 | Garwey Dual turnover (lost ball) | |||
5:05 | Jaylin Stewart misses three point jump shot | |||
5:03 | Devin Carter defensive rebound | |||
4:45 | Garwey Dual misses three point jump shot | |||
4:43 | Jaylin Stewart defensive rebound | |||
4:38 | +2 | Stephon Castle makes two point dunk (Tristen Newton assists) | 21-20 | |
4:37 | Friars 30 second timeout | |||
4:13 | +3 | Corey Floyd Jr. makes three point jump shot (Devin Carter assists) | 24-20 | |
3:57 | +2 | Tristen Newton makes two point layup | 24-22 | |
3:34 | Alex Karaban blocks Jayden Pierre's two point layup | |||
3:32 | Jayden Pierre offensive rebound | |||
3:26 | Cam Spencer blocks Ticket Gaines's two point layup | |||
3:24 | Alex Karaban defensive rebound | |||
3:17 | +3 | Alex Karaban makes three point jump shot (Cam Spencer assists) | 24-25 | |
2:51 | +2 | Ticket Gaines makes two point layup (Devin Carter assists) | 26-25 | |
2:32 | +3 | Cam Spencer makes three point jump shot (Stephon Castle assists) | 26-28 | |
2:05 | Devin Carter misses two point layup | |||
2:03 | Friars offensive rebound | |||
2:00 | TV timeout | |||
1:44 | +2 | Ticket Gaines makes two point jump shot | 28-28 | |
1:18 | Rafael Castro personal foul (Tristen Newton draws the foul) | |||
1:18 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-29 | |
1:18 | Tristen Newton misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
1:18 | Rafael Castro defensive rebound | |||
0:53 | Garwey Dual offensive foul (Tristen Newton draws the foul) | |||
0:53 | Garwey Dual turnover (offensive foul) | |||
0:48 | Rafael Castro shooting foul (Tristen Newton draws the foul) | |||
0:48 | Tristen Newton misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
0:48 | Tristen Newton misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:48 | Corey Floyd Jr. defensive rebound | |||
0:41 | Devin Carter offensive foul (Stephon Castle draws the foul) | |||
0:41 | Devin Carter turnover (offensive foul) | |||
0:27 | Huskies 30 second timeout | |||
0:11 | Tristen Newton misses three point jump shot | |||
0:09 | Rafael Castro defensive rebound | |||
0:09 | Alex Karaban personal foul (Rafael Castro draws the foul) | |||
0:03 | Cam Spencer personal foul | |||
0:00 | Garwey Dual misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Huskies defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |