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| Connecticut's Stanley Robinson, right, scores two of his 17 points while being guarded by William and Mary's Marcus Kitts during the second half of Connecticut's 75-66 win in their NCAA college men's basketball game in Storrs, Conn., on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham) |
Posted: Saturday, 14 November 2009 3:42AM
No. 12 UConn Holds off Tribe, 75-66
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STORRS, Conn. (AP) - Jerome Dyson missed Connecticut's run to
the Final Four last season with a torn-up knee.
He wasn't going to let a torn toenail keep him out of this
season's opener.
Dyson, playing without the nail on his right big toe, scored 27
points to lead No. 12 UConn to a 75-66 win Friday night over
William & Mary.
The senior guard, who hadn't played since Feb. 11 when he tore
the meniscus in his right knee, also had eight assists and four
steals.
``I just had to fight through it,'' Dyson said. ``I'm not in
that much pain.''
William & Mary kept the game close by hitting 13 shots from
3-point range, and got within four in the second half. Quinn
McDowell led the Tribe (0-1) with 20 points and David Schneider and
Danny Sumner each added 14.
Stanley Robinson added 17 points and freshman Alex Oriakhi had
eight points and 10 rebounds for UConn (1-0). The two teams each
had 34 rebounds, but William & Mary won the battle on the offensive
boards 13-10.
UConn coach Jim Calhoun said he thought his squad was outplayed
by a team with less talent.
``It was just a lackluster performance,'' he said. ``It was a
win and a lackluster performance by us. Honestly, for a young team,
you can't be lackluster.''
UConn led 65-58 with 4 minutes left when Robinson was fouled
going to the basket. After hitting his first free throw, he
followed a miss with a rebound and dunk that put the Huskies back
up by 10 points, and UConn hung on from there.
``I knew the shot was coming off, so I just pretty much timed
it, and pretty much dunked it,'' Robinson said. ``But at the same
time, we didn't play a great game, and it showed.''
UConn had hoped simply to outrun William & Mary.
The Huskies went into a press off its first basket and got six
easy points inside from the 6-foot-9 Oriakhi. They had
highlight-reel dunks from Dyson and Robinson and went on a 10-0 run
early, turning a 9-7 lead into a 19-7 advantage. But UConn made
just two jump shots in the first half and missed all five of its
3-pointers.
Sumner and McDowell kept the Tribe in the game, scoring 21 of
the team's 31 points in the first half. William & Mary closed the
half on a 14-6 run and trailed just 37-31 at the half.
Freshman Darius Smith made the Huskies' first 3-pointer more
than 3 minutes into the second half, after the Tribe had cut the
lead to 42-38.
Dyson, who accidentally ripped the toenail off his right foot
last week, then led the Huskies on a 13-3 run. He hit consecutive
3s to stretch the UConn lead to 55-41 _ the largest lead of the
game.
``I was really proud of our effort,'' said William & Mary coach
Tony Shaver. ``We stood toe-to-toe with a pretty doggone good ball
club.''
UConn finished just 5 of 16 from 3-point range. The Tribe hit 7
of 16 3-pointers in the second half alone.
``That kid McDowell is still open,'' Calhoun said.
Connecticut, which has led the nation in blocked shots for eight
consecutive years, had seven against the Tribe, three from
Robinson.
Four freshmen saw playing time for the Huskies, but only Oriakhi
stood out.
``It comes with time,'' said point guard Kemba Walker, who had
12 points. ``We're going to get better. We're going to take this
game, practice tomorrow and get better.''
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Associated Press
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