The UConn Huskies used their size and athleticism to get past the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs 78-66 to move on to the finals of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic benefiting Coaches vs Cancer at Madison Square Garden.
The Huskies were led by A.J. Price who had 18 points to go along with 10 assists. Stanley Robinson also had a double-double for the Huskies as he scored 12 points and had 10 rebounds. Doug Wiggins finished off the Huskies in double figures as he scored 13 off the bench. The Runnin’ Bulldogs were led by Thomas Sanders who had a game-high 20 points and 14 rebounds. Grayson Flittner added 16 points to the cause.
It was the Price scoring show in the first half as he had 17 of his 18 points. UConn got out to a 6-0 lead before the Bulldogs would battle back to 10-9. UConn would then go on a 10-0 run to go up by 11 points before Gardner-Webb threw together a 9-0 run of their own to get back within two points. The Huskies then went on a 13-2 run and eventually went into the locker room at the half with a 14-point lead at 41-27.
Instead of scoring in the second half, Price did his best to share the wealth. UConn got it’s lead up to 56-38 when Hasheem Thabeet made a layup forcing the Runnin’ Bulldogs to call time. After the timeout, Gardner-Webb cut the lead down to 11 points before the Huskies said enough is enough. UConn went up by 24 points with 10:48 to go in the game as they put together a 13-0 run. The Huskies were able to hold on down the stretch and survive the late run by the Runnin’ Bulldogs to take the game.
It was a game dictated by the referees as it seemed every time down the floor they would blow their whistles. Both teams combined for 50 fouls in the game with the Runnin’ Bulldogs committing 29 of those. Most of their first half, their key guys were in foul trouble.
UConn now awaits the winner of the Oklahoma/Memphis game that is going on right now. Game time is tomorrow night at roughly 8:30 PM or 30 minutes after the finish of the consolation game and will be on ESPN2.
Notes and Observations:
These two teams will meet again next Tuesday at the Hartford Civic Center. Everyone expected Kentucky to advance to MSG and not Gardner-Webb. The Runnin’ Bulldogs will also play on Saturday against Radford for 3 games in 3 nights.
The starting five was A.J. Price, Jerome Dyson, Curtis Kelly, Stanley Robinson and Jeff Adrien.
The start for Kelly was the first in his career.
Hasheem Thabeet didn’t start because he was late to a team shooting practice on Wednesday. He did see action in the game and finished with 8 points and 10 rebounds.
Dyson fouled out of the game and only had 7 points.
UConn outrebounded the Runnin’ Bulldogs 51-38.
The Huskies atrocious foul shooting continued as they were 14 of 26 (53.8%) from the charity stripe. This is not going to win games down the road. I repeat, this is not going to win games down the road.
