This was definitely not the way head coach Kevin Ollie and the UConn Huskies men's basketball team wanted to enter 2014. Playing against a short-handed and less experienced Houston Cougars team, the Huskies were outplayed.
And despite their best efforts to rally, UConn fell to Houston 75-71 in front of 4,035 and a nationally televised audience at Hofheinz Pavilion on New Year's Eve 2013 in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
The Huskies fall to 11-2 (0-1 American) while the Cougars improve to 9-5 (1-0).
Shabazz Napier led the Huskies with 27 points and nine rebounds. 25 of his points came in the second half which saw the Huskies erase an 18 point deficit and hold the lead late.
Ryan Boatright added 19 points and nine assists while DeAndre Daniels had 12 points.
TaShawn Thomas led the Cougars with 23 points and had eight rebounds. Jherrod Stiggers had 17 points while Danrad Knowles had 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
I could say the Huskies comeback was a great thing to see because it was. But in actuality, they really shouldn't have been that far behind.
It just shows you that you can't win a basketball game on a talent alone. Houston had more heart in this one, more of the will to win than UConn.
The Huskies will stay in the great state of Texas as they'll take on the SMU Mustangs in Dallas on Saturday, January 4. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
UConn Huskies @ Houston Cougars 12/31/13 box score
Here are the postgame quotes from Houston head coach James Dickey and UConn head coach Kevin Ollie.
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photo credit: troy taormina – usa today sports
