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UConn associate head coach George Blaney, center, who is running the team in Jim Calhoun's absence, speaks to his player during a time-out during UConn's 64-57 win over DePaul in Storrs. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)

UConn Snaps Three-Game Losing Streak, 64-57 Over DePaul

By PAT EATON-ROBB, Associated Press Writer

STORRS, Conn. (AP) _ Coaching Connecticut is apparently not good for your health.

George Blaney, who has been filling in while Jim Calhoun is on a doctor-ordered medical leave, told his team that after three consecutive losses, he was starting to feel sick.

He felt a little better Saturday, after Jerome Dyson scored 20 points and Connecticut snapped a three-game losing streak by beating DePaul 64-57.

WTIC's Joe D'Ambrosio reports

``I said tonight, 'I still feel a little sick, but I feel good because W's are better than L's,''' said Blaney, who described the game as a ``pure dentist game.''

``It was grind it out, hang tough,'' he said.

Stanley Robinson added 10 points and seven rebounds for the Huskies (14-9, 4-6 Big East), who improved to 3-3 during Calhoun's absence.

Will Walker hit 6 of 9 from 3-point range and scored 24 points to lead DePaul (8-15, 1-10), which came back from a nine-point second-half deficit, but could not hold a 52-51 lead with less than 6 minutes to play.

Mac Koshwal had 12 points for the Blue Demons, who lost their fifth consecutive game and fell to 1-8 since replacing coach Jerry Wainwright with Tracy Webster.
     ``Even before taking the lead, our guys were really confident,'' Webster said. ``They never gave up, and they have not been giving up all year. We just have to find a way to get over the hump.''

UConn led 37-28 just over a minute into the second half, before the Blue Demons fought their way back.

The comeback began after Dyson left the game with a minor injury to his midsection and UConn leading by seven points. He returned after DePaul cut the lead to 41-38.

Dyson said he may have taken a shot to the ribs in the first half, and almost didn't come out for the second, in which he scored 12 points.

``It seems like we struggled when I was out of the game,'' he said. ``I just tried to get back in there and help my team out and do what I could.''

A layup by Devin Hill gave DePaul the lead at 52-51 with just under 6 minutes to play.

But UConn took it back on a Kemba Walker layup, and went up by six after Ater Majok got the offensive rebound on a missed free throw and Dyson hit a jumper.

Will Walker's 3-pointer made it 60-57, but UConn hit its free throws down the stretch.

``We've still got a lot of work to do,'' Kemba Walker said. ``But it's a Big East win, and you can't complain about a win, so we'll just take it and build from here.''

Dyson was 10 of 11 from the foul line to lead the Huskies, who hit 25 of their 35 free throw attempts. The Blue Demons hit just one free throw and had only six attempts from the line.

``All I can say is the six we took, we need to make all six of them,'' Webster said. ``Hopefully, one day we'll get to the line 40 times.''

DePaul was making its first visit to Gampel Pavilion, where UConn came in 15-1 against Big East opponents.

The Blue Demons jumped out to an 11-5 lead, hitting five of their first six shots. But a technical foul on Webster sparked a 14-2 UConn run that turned a 23-18 deficit into a 32-25 lead. The Huskies led 34-27 at the half.

The two teams have played five times, and UConn has won four of those.