Two members of Jim Calhoun's coaching tree. Two former members of the UConn Huskies men's basketball team.
Only one could win.
Fortunately for Kevin Ollie, it was his team that pulled that out the 73-62 win over Steve Pikell's Stony Brook Seawolves team in front of 8,474 at Gampel Pavilion on Sunday afternoon.
With the win, UConn improves to 5-1. Stony Brook, playing its second game in as many days, falls to 4-2.
Despite a slow start to the game yet again, Shabazz Napier led the Huskies with 19 points and three steals. Niels Giffey came off the bench to score a career-high 15 points and pull down a career-high eight rebounds to lead UConn in that category.
Omar Calhoun rounded out the Huskies in double figures with 14 points but did commit six turnovers. Ryan Boatright led the Huskies with seven assists to go along with his nine points.
Dave Coley led the Seawolves with 15 points while Tommy Brenton had 14 points. Jameel Warney pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds and also had eight points and two blocks.
It wasn't a pretty game for the Huskies. There's going to be a lot of games like this.
Until Tyler Olander can keep himself out of foul trouble or either Enosch Wolf or Phil Nolan can establish themselves in the post, UConn is going to need to rely on its guards to get the job done.
I thought Giffey stepped up nicely in place of R.J. Evans getting more minutes. And he responded. We'll need much more of that this season from him.
But a win is a win and I know they'll take it.
The Huskies are back in action on Thursday night when they'll host the New Hampshire Wildcats at at the XL Center in Hartford, CT. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast locally in Connecticut on SNY.
Stony Brook Seawolves @ UConn Huskies 11.25.12 box score
Here are the postgame quotes from UConn head coach Kevin Ollie as well as some of his players (will be added when they become available).
Here are UConn's postgame notes.
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photo credit: mark mirko – hartford courant (no. 6 in gallery)
