Karaban scores 21 points as No. 1 UConn rolls past DePaul 101-65 for its 13th straight win
CHICAGO (AP) No. 1 UConn knows what's on the horizon. It didn't distract the Huskies from the task at hand.
Alex Karaban scored 21 points, and UConn rolled to its 13th straight win, beating DePaul 101-65 on Wednesday night.
Karaban nailed five 3-pointers - one shy of his career high - after scoring 25 in a romp at Georgetown last week, and the Huskies (23-2, 13-1 Big East) wasted little time burying the Blue Demons (3-21, 0-13). They took control in the opening minutes and never looked back.
UConn faces a stiffer test when it hosts No. 4 Marquette on Saturday, a marquee matchup that could go a long way toward sealing the top seed in the Big East Tournament. The Huskies also have their sights set on becoming the first program to repeat as national champions since Florida in 2006-07.
With all that, a game against DePaul would have been easy to look past. Instead, the Huskies simply made it look easy.
“I thought we handled the game real professionally and just showed tremendous respect for our opponent in this one,” coach Danny Hurley said. “I had some concerns coming in, just human nature things relative to taking the game lightly, but we were pretty on point.”
Against Georgetown, Hurley called a timeout leading by 25 late in the game it dominated from the start and shouted at his players, reminding them to stay focused. The message seemed to go through.
“It carried (over), I think,” Karaban said. “We were in the same situation, just to learn from it and really just show growth from that game. As long as we're getting better, that's all that matters.”
Stephon Castle had 15 points and six assists for UConn and Cam Spencer added 14 points five rebounds and five assists.
Jaden Henley scored 15 for DePaul. But the Blue Demons lost their 12th straight game and sixth since interim coach Matt Brady took over for the fired Tony Stubblefield.
UConn showed why it's at the top of the AP poll for the fifth week in a row, grabbing a 52-29 halftime lead.
The Huskies were up 22-7 after Spencer nailed a 3 and Jaylin Stewart broke in for a layup just over eight minutes into the game. And with a 31-18 lead, they put this one away with a 13-2 run.
Karaban started it when he made a jumper with 7:15 left in the half. Hassan Diarra went the distance for a layup following a steal to make it a 20-point game. Spencer pulled up for a jumper in the lane, and Tristen Newton scored on a putback, making it 44-20 with just over four minutes left in the half.
“I feel like we displayed what we bring to the table,” Castle said.
BIG PICTURE
UConn: The Huskies moved a step closer to their first Big East regular-season championship since the 2005-06 season, when they tied Villanova. The Huskies lead Marquette by 2 1/2 games with six remaining.
DePaul: The Blue Demons never really were in this one and fell to 1-19 against UConn.
UP NEXT
UConn: The showdown with Marquette in Hartford on Saturday is the first of two games between the teams. UConn visits the Golden Eagles on March 6.
DePaul: The Blue Demons will try again for their first conference win when they visit Providence on Saturday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Donovan Clingan vs. Churchill Abass (Huskies gains possession) | |||
19:42 | Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot | |||
19:40 | Jaden Henley defensive rebound | |||
19:14 | Donovan Clingan shooting foul (Churchill Abass draws the foul) | |||
19:14 | Churchill Abass misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
19:14 | +1 | Churchill Abass makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 0-1 | |
19:00 | Tristen Newton misses two point layup | |||
18:58 | Donovan Clingan offensive rebound | |||
18:58 | Churchill Abass shooting foul (Donovan Clingan draws the foul) | |||
18:58 | +1 | Donovan Clingan makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 1-1 | |
18:58 | +1 | Donovan Clingan makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-1 | |
18:29 | +2 | Churchill Abass makes two point jump shot (Jalen Terry assists) | 2-3 | |
18:20 | +2 | Cam Spencer makes two point jump shot | 4-3 | |
18:09 | Jalen Terry turnover (bad pass) (Cam Spencer steals) | |||
18:04 | +2 | Stephon Castle makes two point layup (Cam Spencer assists) | 6-3 | |
17:49 | Elijah Fisher misses three point jump shot | |||
17:47 | Alex Karaban defensive rebound | |||
17:41 | Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot | |||
17:39 | Donovan Clingan offensive rebound | |||
17:35 | +2 | Donovan Clingan makes two point layup | 8-3 | |
17:11 | Donovan Clingan blocks Jaden Henley's two point layup | |||
17:09 | Blue Demons offensive rebound | |||
17:03 | Jeremiah Oden misses three point jump shot | |||
17:01 | Donovan Clingan defensive rebound | |||
16:50 | Tristen Newton turnover (lost ball) (Jeremiah Oden steals) | |||
16:44 | +2 | Jaden Henley makes two point layup (Jalen Terry assists) | 8-5 | |
16:29 | Tristen Newton misses three point jump shot | |||
16:27 | Stephon Castle offensive rebound | |||
16:16 | +3 | Alex Karaban makes three point jump shot (Cam Spencer assists) | 11-5 | |
15:49 | Donovan Clingan blocks Mac Etienne's two point layup | |||
15:47 | Stephon Castle defensive rebound | |||
15:40 | +2 | Stephon Castle makes two point layup (Cam Spencer assists) | 13-5 | |
15:40 | Jaden Henley shooting foul (Stephon Castle draws the foul) | |||
15:40 | TV timeout | |||
15:40 | Stephon Castle misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
15:40 | Elijah Fisher defensive rebound | |||
15:26 | Jalen Terry misses two point layup | |||
15:24 | Blue Demons offensive rebound | |||
15:15 | Da'Sean Nelson misses two point layup | |||
15:13 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
15:06 | Samson Johnson offensive foul | |||
15:06 | Samson Johnson turnover (offensive foul) | |||
14:52 | Jalen Terry misses three point jump shot | |||
14:50 | Blue Demons offensive rebound | |||
14:48 | Samson Johnson personal foul (Mac Etienne draws the foul) | |||
14:42 | +2 | K.T. Raimey makes two point layup | 13-7 | |
14:13 | Hassan Diarra misses three point jump shot | |||
14:11 | Donovan Clingan offensive rebound | |||
14:06 | Mac Etienne blocks Donovan Clingan's two point layup | |||
14:04 | Elijah Fisher defensive rebound | |||
13:48 | Jalen Terry misses three point jump shot | |||
13:46 | Tristen Newton defensive rebound | |||
13:37 | Mac Etienne shooting foul (Alex Karaban draws the foul) | |||
13:37 | +1 | Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-7 | |
13:37 | +1 | Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-7 | |
13:15 | Elijah Fisher turnover (traveling) | |||
13:06 | Mac Etienne shooting foul (Cam Spencer draws the foul) | |||
13:06 | +1 | Cam Spencer makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-7 | |
13:06 | +1 | Cam Spencer makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-7 | |
12:53 | K.T. Raimey misses three point jump shot | |||
12:51 | Jaden Henley offensive rebound | |||
12:42 | Jaden Henley misses three point jump shot | |||
12:40 | Da'Sean Nelson offensive rebound | |||
12:40 | Jaylin Stewart personal foul (Da'Sean Nelson draws the foul) | |||
12:31 | K.T. Raimey turnover (back court violation) | |||
12:20 | Stephon Castle misses three point jump shot | |||
12:18 | Jaylin Stewart offensive rebound | |||
12:13 | +3 | Cam Spencer makes three point jump shot | 20-7 | |
11:54 | Churchill Abass turnover (lost ball) (Hassan Diarra steals) | |||
11:48 | +2 | Jaylin Stewart makes two point layup (Hassan Diarra assists) | 22-7 | |
11:46 | Blue Demons 30 second timeout | |||
11:46 | TV timeout | |||
11:24 | Jalen Terry misses two point jump shot | |||
11:22 | Jalen Terry offensive rebound | |||
11:16 | +2 | Elijah Fisher makes two point layup (K.T. Raimey assists) | 22-9 | |
10:57 | Hassan Diarra misses three point jump shot | |||
10:55 | K.T. Raimey defensive rebound | |||
10:42 | Donovan Clingan personal foul (Churchill Abass draws the foul) | |||
10:25 | K.T. Raimey turnover (bad pass) (Hassan Diarra steals) | |||
10:21 | K.T. Raimey shooting foul (Stephon Castle draws the foul) | |||
10:21 | Stephon Castle misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
10:21 | +1 | Stephon Castle makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-9 | |
10:08 | +2 | Jaden Henley makes two point layup | 23-11 | |
9:57 | +3 | Alex Karaban makes three point jump shot (Stephon Castle assists) | 26-11 | |
9:23 | +2 | Churchill Abass makes two point dunk (Jalen Terry assists) | 26-13 | |
8:56 | Tristen Newton turnover (bad pass) | |||
8:39 | Jalen Terry misses two point layup | |||
8:37 | Alex Karaban defensive rebound | |||
8:31 | Da'Sean Nelson personal foul | |||
8:25 | +2 | Tristen Newton makes two point layup | 28-13 | |
8:25 | Jaden Henley shooting foul (Tristen Newton draws the foul) | |||
8:25 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 29-13 | |
8:04 | +3 | Jeremiah Oden makes three point jump shot (Jalen Terry assists) | 29-16 | |
7:53 | Cam Spencer misses three point jump shot | |||
7:52 | Huskies offensive rebound | |||
7:52 | Jalen Terry personal foul (Alex Karaban draws the foul) | |||
7:52 | TV timeout | |||
7:52 | +1 | Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-16 | |
7:52 | +1 | Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-16 | |
7:37 | +2 | Elijah Fisher makes two point layup | 31-18 | |
7:16 | +2 | Alex Karaban makes two point jump shot (Cam Spencer assists) | 33-18 | |
7:05 | Jeremiah Oden turnover (bad pass) (Cam Spencer steals) | |||
6:46 | +2 | Hassan Diarra makes two point layup (Alex Karaban assists) | 35-18 | |
6:24 | Hassan Diarra shooting foul (Elijah Fisher draws the foul) | |||
6:24 | +1 | Elijah Fisher makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-19 | |
6:24 | +1 | Elijah Fisher makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-20 | |
6:16 | +2 | Stephon Castle makes two point layup | 37-20 | |
5:57 | Jaden Henley misses three point jump shot | |||
5:55 | Hassan Diarra defensive rebound | |||
5:44 | Jalen Terry personal foul (Hassan Diarra draws the foul) | |||
5:44 | +1 | Hassan Diarra makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 38-20 | |
5:44 | Hassan Diarra misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
5:44 | Da'Sean Nelson defensive rebound | |||
5:25 | Jalen Terry turnover (lost ball) (Hassan Diarra steals) | |||
5:23 | +2 | Hassan Diarra makes two point layup | 40-20 | |
5:23 | Blue Demons 30 second timeout | |||
5:06 | Jalen Terry turnover (lost ball) (Hassan Diarra steals) | |||
4:38 | +2 | Cam Spencer makes two point jump shot | 42-20 | |
4:21 | K.T. Raimey misses two point layup | |||
4:19 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
4:13 | Tristen Newton misses two point layup | |||
4:11 | Tristen Newton offensive rebound | |||
4:09 | +2 | Tristen Newton makes two point layup | 44-20 | |
4:03 | +2 | K.T. Raimey makes two point layup | 44-22 | |
3:45 | Jaylin Stewart misses three point jump shot | |||
3:43 | Tristen Newton offensive rebound | |||
3:41 | Tristen Newton misses two point layup | |||
3:39 | Tristen Newton offensive rebound | |||
3:35 | Tristen Newton misses two point layup | |||
3:33 | Da'Sean Nelson defensive rebound | |||
3:17 | +2 | Elijah Fisher makes two point layup (Da'Sean Nelson assists) | 44-24 | |
3:05 | Huskies 30 second timeout | |||
3:05 | TV timeout | |||
2:58 | +3 | Hassan Diarra makes three point jump shot (Tristen Newton assists) | 47-24 | |
2:36 | K.T. Raimey misses two point layup | |||
2:34 | Solomon Ball defensive rebound | |||
2:23 | Elijah Fisher shooting foul (Samson Johnson draws the foul) | |||
2:23 | Samson Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
2:23 | +1 | Samson Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 48-24 | |
2:11 | Churchill Abass turnover (bad pass) | |||
1:59 | +2 | Solomon Ball makes two point jump shot (Tristen Newton assists) | 50-24 | |
1:41 | +2 | Da'Sean Nelson makes two point layup (Elijah Fisher assists) | 50-26 | |
1:36 | Hassan Diarra turnover (bad pass) | |||
1:19 | Alex Karaban blocks Elijah Fisher's two point layup | |||
1:17 | Solomon Ball defensive rebound | |||
1:11 | Jeremiah Oden blocks Alex Karaban's two point dunk | |||
1:09 | Tristen Newton offensive rebound | |||
1:02 | Jaylin Stewart turnover (bad pass) (Elijah Fisher steals) | |||
0:51 | Jeremiah Oden misses three point jump shot | |||
0:49 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
0:42 | Elijah Fisher shooting foul (Tristen Newton draws the foul) | |||
0:42 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 51-26 | |
0:42 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 52-26 | |
0:30 | Alex Karaban personal foul (Da'Sean Nelson draws the foul) | |||
0:30 | Da'Sean Nelson misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
0:30 | Donovan Clingan defensive rebound | |||
0:05 | Tristen Newton turnover (bad pass) (Da'Sean Nelson steals) | |||
0:01 | +3 | Da'Sean Nelson makes three point jump shot | 52-29 | |
0:00 | End of period |