Connecticut 67, UCF 60: Ryan Boatright scored 18 points as the host Huskies built a big first-half lead and held off the Knights.

Amida Brimah added 12 of his 14 points in the second half as UConn (10-7, 3-2 American Athletic Conference) pulled away late to avert a third straight loss. Freshman Daniel Hamilton chipped in 10 points, nine rebounds and seven assists and Omar Calhoun scored 11 as the Huskies hit a season-high 11 3-pointers to improve to 6-1 versus UCF (9-9, 2-5).

Freshman B.J. Taylor scored a team-high 13 points and Justin McBride added 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Knights, who lost for the fifth time in seven games. Adonys Henriquez and Daiquan Walker were also in double figures with 10 points apiece.

Despite knocking down 5-of-8 from long range, UConn led by only one point before Boatright drilled a pair of 3-pointers and Rodney Purvis nailed one while also completing a three-point play in a 19-2 burst that doubled up the Knights 36-18. UCF responded with a 15-3 closing run, including the final 10 points to whittle the deficit to 39-33 at the break.

Brimah converted three straight dunks and had seven points as the Huskies pushed the lead back to 53-40 with 13:53 to play, but they were limited to one field goal for more than 7 1/2 minutes and the Knights drew within 61-56 on Henriquez's 3-pointer with 3:30 remaining. But UConn answered with a 6-1 burst to extend the lead to 67-57 with 1:33 left.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Boatright, who was held to a combined 15 points in the previous two games, hit all four 3-point attempts as the Huskies finished 10-of-17 behind the arc in the first half, matching their season high for an entire game. ... Henriquez, UCF's second-leading scorer at 11.5 points per game, was limited to one point in the first half before hitting three 3-pointers after the break. ... Calhoun made his second start of the season and scored all 11 of his points in opening half.