No. 20 Connecticut 80, Yale 62: Shabazz Napier had 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists as the Huskies coasted to a home win over the Bulldogs.
Napier posted his second career triple-double, nearly two years removed from his first one against Coppin State on Nov. 20, 2011. Niels Giffey hit five 3-pointers and scored all 15 of his points in the first half while Omar Calhoun scored a game-high 18 to pace Connecticut (2-0), which notched its 13th straight victory over the Bulldogs.
Sophomore Justin Sears, who tallied career highs with 26 points and 13 rebounds in the Bulldogs’ season-opening victory over Central Connecticut State, paced Yale (1-1) with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Javier Duren chipped with 15 points and was the only other Bulldog to finish in double figures.
After the Bulldogs tied the game at 9-9, Giffey drained five 3-pointers over a 4:55 span – including one on four consecutive possessions – as the Huskies built a 27-15 advantage. Yale closed to within seven with five free throws, but Connecticut used a 12-4 surge over the final 4:05 of the first half to take a 39-24 halftime lead.
Calhoun scored eight of Connecticut’s first 10 points coming out of the break as the lead swelled to 57-36 following a 3-pointer by Ryan Boatright. Yale pounded the offensive glass to rally to within 11 with 4:06 left, but Napier’s three-point play and 3-pointer on the Huskies’ next two possessions put the game away.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Connecticut has won 68 straight games against in-state opponents. … Yale owned a 43-31 rebounding edge, including a 22-4 advantage on the offensive end. … Giffey began the season 8-of-8 beyond the arc (including a 3-of-3 effort in the Huskies’ season-opening victory over Maryland) before missing his first 3-pointer with 4:44 remaining.
Yale | Connecticut | |
Justin Sears 17 | Scoring | Omar Calhoun 18 |
Javier Duren 4 | Assists | Shabazz Napier 10 |
Justin Sears 10 | Rebounds | Shabazz Napier 11 |
Justin Sears 7 | Free Throws Made | Ryan Boatright 6 |
Javier Duren 2 | Steals | Ryan Boatright 3 |
Anthony Dallier 1 | Blocks | Amida Brimah 7 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Yale | 62 | 31.7 | 6-19 | 16-25 | 11 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 14 |
Connecticut | 80 | 56.5 | 11-17 | 17-23 | 16 | 26 | 13 | 7 | 11 |