No. 3 UConn routs Seton Hall 91-61 to earn first outright Big East regular-season title in 25 years
STORRS, Conn. (AP) No. 3 UConn is the defending men's national champion. However, the Huskies had not won even a share of the Big East regular-season title in 18 years.
Donovan Clingan scored 19 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead a balanced attack and Connecticut clinched its first outright Big East championship in 25 years Sunday with a 91-61 rout of Seton Hall.
The team considered the achievement big enough to cut down the nets at Gampel Pavilion after the game.
“The hardest thing to do is to be excellent over the course of three, four months in a brutal, hard league,” coach Dan Hurley said.
Freshman Stephon Castle tied a career high with 21 points and Tristen Newton had 17 points and 10 assists for the Huskies (26-3, 16-2 Big East), who finished this season undefeated at home (16-0). Alex Karaban added 13 points.
Dre Davis had 20 points and Kadary Richmond scored 15 to lead Seton Hall (18-11, 11-7), which remains in fourth place in the Big East with the loss, a game ahead of Villanova.
UConn, which lost at Seton Hall by 15 points in December, shot 56% from the floor, outscored the Pirates 52-30 in the paint, outrebounded them 38-26 and scored 24 points off 11 Seton Hall turnovers.
“I feel like our defense really went to the next level,” said Clingan, who missed five games after suffering a right foot injury during the loss in New Jersey.
“Coach has really emphasized just trying to work on our defense, just trying to really guard the ball at a high level, rebound the ball at a high level.”
Davis had 12 points in the first 10 minutes and 16 points in the first half for Seton Hall. His 3-point play on a layup sparked a 7-0 run that gave the Pirates an 18-14 lead.
But UConn responded with a 15-2 run, highlighted by a steal and one of several highlight-reel dunks from Castle.
A floater in the lane from Karaban put the Huskies up by 15 points at intermission and the Huskies outscored Seton Hall 47-32 in the second half.
BIG PICTURE
Seton Hall: The Pirates were picked to finish ninth in the conference's preseason poll and remain on the bubble for an NCAA Tournament berth. Coach Shaheen Holloway did not speak with reporters or make his players available after the game.
UConn: The Huskies previously won all of their regular-season home games back in 2005-06, when they finished 16-0 in the league. That was the same season the program won a share of its most recent Big East regular-season title.
“We feel it's harder to win the Big East than the national championship,” Newton said.
CELEBRATIONS
The Huskies honored Newton, Cam Spencer, Hassan Diarra and Andrew Hurley in senior day ceremonies. It’s also possible that several underclassmen were playing their final home games. Clingan, Karaban and Castle a re all considered draft prospects.
PLAY OF THE GAME
A behind-the-back dribble, crossover move and dunk by Castle put the Huskies up 74-51.
“I'm just out there having fun,” he said.
UP NEXT
Seton Hall: The Pirates have two home games remaining, beginning with Villanova on Wednesday before closing the season against DePaul next Saturday.
UConn: The Huskies visit Marquette on Wednesday and close the season next Saturday in Providence.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | (Huskies gains possession) | |||
20:00 | (Huskies gains possession) | |||
20:00 | (Huskies gains possession) | |||
19:37 | Donovan Clingan misses two point jump shot | |||
19:35 | Kadary Richmond defensive rebound | |||
19:13 | Kadary Richmond misses two point layup | |||
19:11 | Kadary Richmond offensive rebound | |||
19:05 | +3 | Al-Amir Dawes makes three point jump shot | 3-0 | |
18:38 | Tristen Newton misses three point jump shot | |||
18:36 | Jaden Bediako defensive rebound | |||
18:26 | Donovan Clingan blocks Dre Davis's two point layup | |||
18:24 | Donovan Clingan defensive rebound | |||
18:20 | Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot | |||
18:18 | Jaden Bediako defensive rebound | |||
18:13 | Kadary Richmond turnover (bad pass) | |||
17:51 | +2 | Stephon Castle makes two point dunk (Donovan Clingan assists) | 3-2 | |
17:28 | +2 | Dre Davis makes two point jump shot | 5-2 | |
17:14 | +2 | Stephon Castle makes two point jump shot | 5-4 | |
16:42 | Kadary Richmond misses two point jump shot | |||
16:40 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
16:25 | Donovan Clingan misses two point layup | |||
16:23 | Stephon Castle offensive rebound | |||
16:19 | +2 | Alex Karaban makes two point layup (Stephon Castle assists) | 5-6 | |
16:05 | Donovan Clingan blocks Jaden Bediako's two point jump shot | |||
16:03 | Alex Karaban defensive rebound | |||
15:47 | +2 | Donovan Clingan makes two point layup (Tristen Newton assists) | 5-8 | |
15:36 | Donovan Clingan blocks Kadary Richmond's two point layup | |||
15:34 | Pirates offensive rebound | |||
15:34 | TV timeout | |||
15:19 | +3 | Dre Davis makes three point jump shot (Kadary Richmond assists) | 8-8 | |
14:49 | Alex Karaban misses two point layup | |||
14:47 | Huskies offensive rebound | |||
14:40 | Dre Davis shooting foul (Stephon Castle draws the foul) | |||
14:40 | +1 | Stephon Castle makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 8-9 | |
14:40 | +1 | Stephon Castle makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-10 | |
14:22 | Jaden Bediako misses two point layup | |||
14:20 | Alex Karaban defensive rebound | |||
14:00 | Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot | |||
13:58 | Pirates defensive rebound | |||
13:41 | Al-Amir Dawes turnover (bad pass) | |||
13:22 | +2 | Hassan Diarra makes two point layup (Samson Johnson assists) | 8-12 | |
13:02 | +2 | Dylan Addae-Wusu makes two point layup | 10-12 | |
13:02 | Samson Johnson shooting foul (Dylan Addae-Wusu draws the foul) | |||
13:02 | +1 | Dylan Addae-Wusu makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 11-12 | |
12:49 | +2 | Samson Johnson makes two point dunk (Cam Spencer assists) | 11-14 | |
12:21 | +2 | Dre Davis makes two point layup | 13-14 | |
12:21 | Jaylin Stewart shooting foul (Dre Davis draws the foul) | |||
12:21 | +1 | Dre Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 14-14 | |
12:01 | Hassan Diarra turnover (bad pass) (Dre Davis steals) | |||
11:50 | Cam Spencer shooting foul | |||
11:50 | TV timeout | |||
11:50 | +1 | Dre Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-14 | |
11:50 | +1 | Dre Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-14 | |
11:25 | Elijah Hutchins-Everett shooting foul (Samson Johnson draws the foul) | |||
11:25 | Samson Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
11:25 | Samson Johnson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
11:25 | Elijah Hutchins-Everett defensive rebound | |||
11:00 | Dylan Addae-Wusu misses two point layup | |||
10:58 | Dre Davis offensive rebound | |||
10:55 | +2 | Dre Davis makes two point layup | 18-14 | |
10:37 | Tristen Newton misses three point jump shot | |||
10:35 | Kadary Richmond defensive rebound | |||
10:29 | Samson Johnson blocks Al-Amir Dawes's two point layup | |||
10:27 | Huskies defensive rebound | |||
10:27 | Elijah Hutchins-Everett personal foul | |||
10:11 | +2 | Donovan Clingan makes two point layup (Tristen Newton assists) | 18-16 | |
9:51 | Kadary Richmond misses two point layup | |||
9:49 | Hassan Diarra defensive rebound | |||
9:43 | +2 | Hassan Diarra makes two point layup | 18-18 | |
9:24 | Dylan Addae-Wusu misses three point jump shot | |||
9:22 | Donovan Clingan defensive rebound | |||
9:02 | +3 | Tristen Newton makes three point jump shot (Stephon Castle assists) | 18-21 | |
8:41 | Hassan Diarra personal foul | |||
8:37 | Dre Davis turnover (Stephon Castle steals) | |||
8:25 | +2 | Stephon Castle makes two point dunk | 18-23 | |
8:06 | Jaden Bediako misses two point hook shot | |||
8:04 | Pirates offensive rebound | |||
8:02 | Donovan Clingan shooting foul (Dre Davis draws the foul) | |||
8:02 | +1 | Dre Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-23 | |
8:02 | +1 | Dre Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-23 | |
7:45 | +2 | Donovan Clingan makes two point hook shot (Tristen Newton assists) | 20-25 | |
7:26 | Dylan Addae-Wusu offensive foul | |||
7:26 | Dylan Addae-Wusu turnover (offensive foul) | |||
7:26 | TV timeout | |||
7:14 | Donovan Clingan misses two point layup | |||
7:12 | Donovan Clingan offensive rebound | |||
7:10 | +2 | Donovan Clingan makes two point layup | 20-27 | |
6:55 | Isaiah Coleman misses three point jump shot | |||
6:52 | Huskies defensive rebound | |||
6:30 | Jaden Bediako blocks Donovan Clingan's two point layup | |||
6:28 | Donovan Clingan offensive rebound | |||
6:26 | Donovan Clingan misses two point layup | |||
6:25 | Alex Karaban offensive rebound | |||
6:25 | Isaiah Coleman shooting foul (Alex Karaban draws the foul) | |||
6:25 | +1 | Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-28 | |
6:25 | +1 | Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-29 | |
6:09 | +2 | Kadary Richmond makes two point layup | 22-29 | |
5:45 | Isaiah Coleman shooting foul (Tristen Newton draws the foul) | |||
5:45 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 22-30 | |
5:45 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 22-31 | |
5:45 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 22-32 | |
5:26 | Kadary Richmond misses two point layup | |||
5:24 | Pirates offensive rebound | |||
5:20 | +3 | Al-Amir Dawes makes three point jump shot (Kadary Richmond assists) | 25-32 | |
4:52 | Dre Davis blocks Cam Spencer's two point jump shot | |||
4:50 | Jaden Bediako defensive rebound | |||
4:44 | Alex Karaban blocks Dylan Addae-Wusu's two point layup | |||
4:42 | Donovan Clingan defensive rebound | |||
4:35 | Al-Amir Dawes personal foul | |||
4:35 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-33 | |
4:35 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-34 | |
4:18 | Dylan Addae-Wusu misses three point jump shot | |||
4:16 | Huskies defensive rebound | |||
3:57 | Cam Spencer turnover (Dre Davis steals) | |||
3:50 | Kadary Richmond turnover (Hassan Diarra steals) | |||
3:43 | Tristen Newton misses three point jump shot | |||
3:42 | Huskies offensive rebound | |||
3:42 | Dylan Addae-Wusu personal foul | |||
3:42 | TV timeout | |||
3:42 | +1 | Samson Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-35 | |
3:42 | Samson Johnson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
3:42 | Kadary Richmond defensive rebound | |||
3:33 | Samson Johnson personal foul | |||
3:24 | Al-Amir Dawes turnover (Tristen Newton steals) | |||
3:18 | Tristen Newton misses two point layup | |||
3:16 | Samson Johnson offensive rebound | |||
3:12 | +2 | Samson Johnson makes two point dunk | 25-37 | |
2:52 | Dre Davis misses two point jump shot | |||
2:50 | Pirates offensive rebound | |||
2:48 | Samson Johnson personal foul (Jaden Bediako draws the foul) | |||
2:48 | Jaden Bediako misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
2:48 | Donovan Clingan defensive rebound | |||
2:32 | Kadary Richmond personal foul (Tristen Newton draws the foul) | |||
2:32 | Tristen Newton misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
2:32 | Kadary Richmond defensive rebound | |||
2:23 | +2 | Dre Davis makes two point jump shot | 27-37 | |
2:03 | Jaden Bediako personal foul (Donovan Clingan draws the foul) | |||
2:03 | +1 | Donovan Clingan makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-38 | |
2:03 | +1 | Donovan Clingan makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-39 | |
1:51 | Kadary Richmond misses two point jump shot | |||
1:49 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
1:34 | Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot | |||
1:32 | Tristen Newton offensive rebound | |||
1:29 | Stephon Castle misses three point jump shot | |||
1:27 | Tristen Newton offensive rebound | |||
1:12 | Stephon Castle turnover (Dre Davis steals) | |||
1:06 | +2 | Jaquan Sanders makes two point layup (Dre Davis assists) | 29-39 | |
0:47 | +2 | Stephon Castle makes two point layup (Tristen Newton assists) | 29-41 | |
0:47 | Al-Amir Dawes shooting foul (Stephon Castle draws the foul) | |||
0:47 | +1 | Stephon Castle makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 29-42 | |
0:34 | Kadary Richmond misses three point jump shot | |||
0:32 | Stephon Castle defensive rebound | |||
0:05 | +2 | Alex Karaban makes two point jump shot (Tristen Newton assists) | 29-44 | |
0:00 | End of period |