No. 1 UConn overwhelms Georgetown 89-64 to extend winning streak to 12 games
WASHINGTON (AP) With his No. 1-ranked team clinging to a 25-point lead with about six minutes left in a game it dominated from the start, UConn coach Dan Hurley called a timeout, gathered his players around and shouted at them, his face red as his voice rose above the din of more than 13,000 spectators.
Hurly knows that a lopsided outing like this 89-64 victory at Georgetown on Saturday might not really have been hanging in the balance at that moment. He also knows - and wanted to make sure his team does, too - that with bigger stakes on the horizon, such as a bid for a second national title in a row, imparting lessons now can pay dividends later.
Alex Karaban scored 25 points, Stephon Castle added 17 and the Huskies never were challenged on the way to leading the Hoyas by as many as 26 in the first half while stretching their winning streak to 12 games. It was UConn's largest win against Georgetown in the schools' 74 meetings.
And yet there was Hurley, bothered by three players jogging back on defense.
“I was absolutely just beside myself,” he said later.
“We had a bunch of moments of weakness there in the second half. If you don't keep your foot on the gas ... (in March), your season ends and you lose and you go home and you're disappointed with how it ends,” Hurley said. “Those are habits and behaviors that have to be entrenched.”
Karaban, who had 17 in the first half and shot 10 for 14 overall to finish one point shy of his college scoring high, smiled when asked about the brief outburst.
“He was just mad that we weren’t playing to (the) UConn standard. ... We looked soft on the defensive end. We weren’t sharp on the offensive end,” Karaban said. “That makes him him. That’s why he’s the best coach.”
UConn (22-2, 12-1 Big East) put together runs of 9-0 and 11-0 before the game was 10 minutes old. It was 52-28 at halftime and UConn's lead never fell below 20 in the second half, helped in part by a 48-28 edge in scoring in the paint.
Georgetown (8-15, 1-11) was held under 40% shooting for the game.
Dontrez Styles scored 23 points for the Hoyas, who have lost eight games in a row under first-year coach Ed Cooley. When he wasn’t actually coaching or trying to convince an official of a missed call, Cooley sarcastically smiled or laughed with his arms crossed or hands on his hips.
“We didn’t show up. I can’t believe we were so listless, lifeless, not physical, not connected, not verbal,” Cooley said.
Leading scorer Jayden Epps was limited to four points, 14.3 below his average.
“The point guard, the head coach and the best player can never have a bad day, and all three of us today were god-awful. God-awful,” Cooley told reporters. “I should have just stayed in bed and had you coach.”
After Castle was left completely unguarded in the paint for a dunk, making it 30-12 midway through the opening half, some boos cascaded from the stands - and Cooley called his second timeout in a span of 39 seconds.
UConn shot 61.6% for the game and wound up with 26 assists on 33 field goals.
“We’re not vulnerable in a lot of spots right now,” Hurley said.
BIG PICTURE
UConn: Off to its best season start since going 24-1 in 2008-09 and next week should mark its fifth in a row at No. 1 in the AP Top 25. The Huskies’ 12-game Big East winning streak is the league’s longest since Villanova put together one that long in 2015.
Georgetown: What was expected to be a slow turnaround under Cooley is precisely that so far.
UP NEXT
UConn: At DePaul on Wednesday to face the only team below Georgetown in the Big East standings. DePaul is 0-12 in the league and 3-20 overall.
Georgetown: Plays Tuesday at Creighton, which is ranked No. 19 in the AP poll. Creighton won 77-60 at Georgetown on Jan. 2.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Donovan Clingan vs. Supreme Cook (Cam Spencer gains possession) | |||
19:43 | +2 | Alex Karaban makes two point layup (Donovan Clingan assists) | 2-0 | |
19:26 | Dontrez Styles turnover (out of bounds) | |||
19:11 | Tristen Newton turnover (lost ball) (Supreme Cook steals) | |||
19:07 | +2 | Supreme Cook makes two point running dunk | 2-2 | |
18:49 | +3 | Alex Karaban makes three point jump shot (Tristen Newton assists) | 5-2 | |
18:28 | Jayden Epps misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
18:26 | Donovan Clingan defensive rebound | |||
18:15 | +3 | Cam Spencer makes three point jump shot (Donovan Clingan assists) | 8-2 | |
17:41 | Cam Spencer shooting foul (Jayden Epps draws the foul) | |||
17:41 | Jayden Epps misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
17:41 | Jayden Epps misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
17:41 | Donovan Clingan defensive rebound | |||
17:19 | Donovan Clingan misses two point layup | |||
17:17 | Donovan Clingan offensive rebound | |||
17:13 | Donovan Clingan misses two point layup | |||
17:11 | Supreme Cook defensive rebound | |||
17:06 | +2 | Jayden Epps makes two point driving layup | 8-4 | |
16:43 | +2 | Alex Karaban makes two point cutting layup (Donovan Clingan assists) | 10-4 | |
16:22 | Ismael Massoud misses two point jump shot | |||
16:20 | Ismael Massoud offensive rebound | |||
16:14 | Donovan Clingan blocks Dontrez Styles's two point layup | |||
16:12 | Dontrez Styles offensive rebound | |||
16:07 | +2 | Dontrez Styles makes two point layup | 10-6 | |
16:00 | Cam Spencer misses three point jump shot | |||
15:58 | Donovan Clingan offensive rebound | |||
15:53 | Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot | |||
15:51 | Cam Spencer offensive rebound | |||
15:47 | Stephon Castle turnover (lost ball) (Dontrez Styles steals) | |||
15:34 | Jayden Epps misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
15:32 | Tristen Newton defensive rebound | |||
15:26 | Ismael Massoud shooting foul (Donovan Clingan draws the foul) | |||
15:26 | TV timeout | |||
15:26 | +1 | Donovan Clingan makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 11-6 | |
15:26 | +1 | Donovan Clingan makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-6 | |
15:02 | Donovan Clingan blocks Ismael Massoud's two point hook shot | |||
15:00 | Jayden Epps offensive rebound | |||
14:47 | Ismael Massoud misses three point jump shot | |||
14:45 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
14:43 | +2 | Alex Karaban makes two point driving layup (Cam Spencer assists) | 14-6 | |
14:32 | Dontrez Styles misses three point jump shot | |||
14:30 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
14:24 | +2 | Alex Karaban makes two point driving layup | 16-6 | |
14:24 | Ismael Massoud shooting foul (Alex Karaban draws the foul) | |||
14:24 | +1 | Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 17-6 | |
13:58 | Jay Heath misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
13:56 | Samson Johnson defensive rebound | |||
13:50 | +2 | Tristen Newton makes two point driving layup | 19-6 | |
13:50 | Hoyas 30 second timeout | |||
13:20 | +2 | Dontrez Styles makes two point pullup jump shot (Rowan Brumbaugh assists) | 19-8 | |
13:20 | Solomon Ball shooting foul (Dontrez Styles draws the foul) | |||
13:20 | +1 | Dontrez Styles makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 19-9 | |
12:56 | Solomon Ball misses three point jump shot | |||
12:54 | Dontrez Styles defensive rebound | |||
12:46 | +3 | Dontrez Styles makes three point jump shot (Rowan Brumbaugh assists) | 19-12 | |
12:37 | +2 | Samson Johnson makes two point dunk (Hassan Diarra assists) | 21-12 | |
12:24 | Supreme Cook offensive foul (Solomon Ball draws the foul) | |||
12:24 | Supreme Cook turnover (offensive foul) | |||
12:10 | +2 | Stephon Castle makes two point cutting dunk (Cam Spencer assists) | 23-12 | |
11:56 | Rowan Brumbaugh turnover (lost ball) (Cam Spencer steals) | |||
11:53 | Dontrez Styles blocks Stephon Castle's two point layup | |||
11:51 | Hoyas defensive rebound | |||
11:51 | TV timeout | |||
11:25 | Samson Johnson blocks Dontrez Styles's two point layup | |||
11:23 | Samson Johnson defensive rebound | |||
11:18 | Hassan Diarra misses three point jump shot | |||
11:16 | Jaylin Stewart offensive rebound | |||
11:13 | +2 | Jaylin Stewart makes two point layup | 25-12 | |
10:45 | Jayden Epps misses two point jump shot | |||
10:43 | Wayne Bristol Jr. offensive rebound | |||
10:42 | Jaylin Stewart personal foul (Wayne Bristol Jr. draws the foul) | |||
10:42 | Hoyas turnover (5-second violation) | |||
10:15 | Dontrez Styles blocks Jaylin Stewart's two point jump shot | |||
10:13 | Wayne Bristol Jr. defensive rebound | |||
10:09 | Ismael Massoud misses three point jump shot | |||
10:07 | Huskies defensive rebound | |||
9:56 | Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot | |||
9:54 | Tristen Newton offensive rebound | |||
9:49 | Stephon Castle misses two point dunk | |||
9:47 | Cam Spencer offensive rebound | |||
9:46 | +3 | Alex Karaban makes three point jump shot (Cam Spencer assists) | 28-12 | |
9:46 | Hoyas 30 second timeout | |||
9:24 | Wayne Bristol Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
9:22 | Huskies defensive rebound | |||
9:09 | +2 | Stephon Castle makes two point dunk (Tristen Newton assists) | 30-12 | |
9:07 | Hoyas 60 second timeout | |||
8:44 | Dontrez Styles misses two point jump shot | |||
8:42 | Hoyas offensive rebound | |||
8:40 | +2 | Wayne Bristol Jr. makes two point jump shot (Rowan Brumbaugh assists) | 30-14 | |
8:08 | Huskies turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
7:49 | Rowan Brumbaugh misses two point jump shot | |||
7:47 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
7:42 | Rowan Brumbaugh personal foul (Stephon Castle draws the foul) | |||
7:42 | TV timeout | |||
7:41 | +2 | Samson Johnson makes two point alley-oop dunk (Tristen Newton assists) | 32-14 | |
7:03 | Samson Johnson shooting foul (Dontrez Styles draws the foul) | |||
7:03 | Dontrez Styles misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
7:03 | +1 | Dontrez Styles makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-15 | |
6:36 | Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot | |||
6:34 | Dontrez Styles defensive rebound | |||
6:05 | +2 | Dontrez Styles makes two point stepback jump shot (Jayden Epps assists) | 32-17 | |
5:41 | +3 | Stephon Castle makes three point jump shot (Cam Spencer assists) | 35-17 | |
5:20 | Dontrez Styles misses three point jump shot | |||
5:18 | Alex Karaban defensive rebound | |||
5:11 | +2 | Samson Johnson makes two point cutting dunk (Cam Spencer assists) | 37-17 | |
4:48 | +2 | Rowan Brumbaugh makes two point driving reverse layup | 37-19 | |
4:24 | +2 | Stephon Castle makes two point jump shot (Tristen Newton assists) | 39-19 | |
4:06 | Drew Fielder misses two point layup | |||
4:04 | Samson Johnson defensive rebound | |||
3:59 | Drew Fielder shooting foul (Tristen Newton draws the foul) | |||
3:59 | TV timeout | |||
3:59 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 40-19 | |
3:59 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 41-19 | |
3:48 | Donovan Clingan blocks Jayden Epps's two point layup | |||
3:46 | Hoyas offensive rebound | |||
3:36 | Jay Heath misses two point jump shot | |||
3:34 | Stephon Castle defensive rebound | |||
3:27 | Jayden Epps shooting foul (Tristen Newton draws the foul) | |||
3:27 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 42-19 | |
3:27 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 43-19 | |
3:07 | Supreme Cook misses two point layup | |||
3:05 | Tristen Newton defensive rebound | |||
3:02 | Dontrez Styles shooting foul (Jaylin Stewart draws the foul) | |||
3:02 | Jaylin Stewart misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
3:02 | +1 | Jaylin Stewart makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 44-19 | |
2:53 | Jaylin Stewart personal foul (Rowan Brumbaugh draws the foul) | |||
2:44 | +3 | Dontrez Styles makes three point stepback jump shot | 44-22 | |
2:29 | +2 | Cam Spencer makes two point jump shot | 46-22 | |
2:18 | +3 | Wayne Bristol Jr. makes three point jump shot (Rowan Brumbaugh assists) | 46-25 | |
2:01 | +2 | Alex Karaban makes two point driving layup | 48-25 | |
2:01 | Dontrez Styles shooting foul (Alex Karaban draws the foul) | |||
2:01 | Alex Karaban misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
2:01 | Supreme Cook defensive rebound | |||
1:45 | Supreme Cook misses two point hook shot | |||
1:43 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
1:31 | +2 | Hassan Diarra makes two point floating jump shot (Donovan Clingan assists) | 50-25 | |
1:31 | Jay Heath shooting foul (Hassan Diarra draws the foul) | |||
1:31 | +1 | Hassan Diarra makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 51-25 | |
1:15 | +3 | Dontrez Styles makes three point stepback jump shot | 51-28 | |
0:46 | Dontrez Styles personal foul (Donovan Clingan draws the foul) | |||
0:46 | Donovan Clingan misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
0:46 | Donovan Clingan misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:46 | Wayne Bristol Jr. defensive rebound | |||
0:33 | Rowan Brumbaugh turnover (bad pass) (Tristen Newton steals) | |||
0:30 | Jay Heath shooting foul (Hassan Diarra draws the foul) | |||
0:30 | Official timeout | |||
0:30 | +1 | Hassan Diarra makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 52-28 | |
0:30 | Hassan Diarra misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:30 | Wayne Bristol Jr. defensive rebound | |||
0:03 | Tristen Newton personal foul (Rowan Brumbaugh draws the foul) | |||
0:01 | Official timeout | |||
0:01 | Stephon Castle personal foul (Supreme Cook draws the foul) | |||
0:01 | Supreme Cook misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
0:01 | Supreme Cook offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |