Rutgers University
Connecticut
Rutgers Falls to Connecticut in OT, 61-50
Feb 03 | Men's Basketball
HARTFORD, CONN. - Sophomore guard Anthony Farmer (Millville, N.J.) hit a three-pointer at the end of regulation, but a late rally by Connecticut in the overtime period helped the Huskies edge the Rutgers men's basketball team (9-14, 2-8 BIG EAST) 61-50 on Saturday afternoon at the Hartford Civic Center.
Sophomore forward Jaron Griffin (Manchester, N.J.) led the Scarlet Knights with 18 points, including 12 in the second half, while Farmer chipped in 13. Senior forward Adrian Hill (Canton, Ohio) posted a game-high 13 rebounds to go along with his eight points.
Rutgers was without its leading scorer and rebounder, JR Inman, who missed the game while attending funeral services for his grandmother.
The Huskies (14-8, 3-6 BIG EAST) were led by three players in double figures, including Jeff Adrien with a game-high 19 points. The backcourt duo of Craig Austrie and Jerome Dyson had 13 points apiece.
Both teams struggled to find their touch from the field, combining for just 14 field goals in the first half. UConn, however, took a seven-point lead (23-16) into the locker room at the half due in large part to its inside presence. The Huskies out-scored Rutgers, 16-2, in the paint with 7-3 center Hasheem Thabeet posting eight points and eight rebounds.
After a Griffin three-pointer pulled the Scarlet Knights within two (28-26) with 14:11 remaining, Connecticut responded with a 10-3 run to extend its lead. Rutgers battled back in the closing minutes of the second half, holding UConn without a field goal in the final 4:37 of regulation.
With 19 seconds on the clock and down by five (46-41), Farmer connected on a three and pulled RU within two points at 46-44. UConn's Stanley Robinson then missed a pair of free throws with seven seconds left in the game to set up Rutgers' final shot. Farmer grabbed the rebound off of the second miss, drove the length of the floor and drilled triple as time expired.
The Huskies won despite failing to score a field goal in the extra period as well, as their 14 overtime points all came from the free throw line.
The Scarlet Knights will complete their two-game road swing on Wednesday, Feb. 7, in Milwaukee, Wis. as they take on 14th-ranked Marquette at 8:00 p.m. EST.
