HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — UConn’s first win over Villanova in the course of the Dan Hurley period got here with the top coach watching the sport on tv at the back of the world.
R.J. Cole hit a driving floater with 5.9 seconds left after which took a cost from Collin Gillespie on the different finish of the courtroom to rally No. 21 Connecticut to a 71-69 victory over the eighth-ranked Wildcats on Tuesday evening.
Adama Sanogo scored 20 factors and Tyler Polley drained a clutch 3-pointer for the Huskies (20-7, 11-5 Huge East), who noticed their coach ejected from the sport within the first half.
Isaiah Whaley added 13 factors and Cole had 12 for UConn, which secured their first 20-win season in six years, prompting followers to storm the courtroom on the XL Heart.
“We took a step ahead,” Cole mentioned. “It was an enormous win for us, an enormous win for this system, however the season, it didn’t cease as we speak. We've three video games left. We've to proceed to try to win out and put ourselves in nice place going into the Huge East Match.”
Gillespie had 17 factors and Brandon Slater added 15 for Villanova (21-7, 14-4), which had gained 5 in a row and eight of 9.
“It was two nice groups battling it out and down the stretch they made the performs,” coach Jay Wright mentioned. “We didn’t make the performs. It was that shut of a recreation.”
Villanova had a four-point lead and the ball with 35 seconds remaining. However then Caleb Daniels missed the entrance finish of a 1-and-1 for the Wildcats, the perfect free-throw capturing group within the nation, and Villanova was outscored 6-0 the remainder of the best way.
UConn led by one at halftime and 7 early within the second half, however couldn't shake the Wildcats.
A 3-pointer from Gillespie gave Villanova its first lead of the ultimate 20 minutes at 56-54, and the groups went forwards and backwards over the ultimate eight minutes.
Polley’s third 3-pointer of the second half with 21 seconds left introduced the Huskies to 69-68. Cole then tied up Gillespie within the backcourt to power a turnover, organising the successful play. The left-handed Cole drove towards the basket alongside the precise aspect and tossed in a troublesome, contested shot along with his proper hand.
Nova had another likelihood and Gillespie drove the size of the courtroom, however proper right into a ready Cole and by no means obtained a shot up.
“It’s one thing he’s completed all 12 months,” mentioned affiliate head coach Kimani Younger, who coached in Hurley’s absence. “There was not shock there, however simply exhibits his toughness, his grit, his will.”
Hurley was tossed from the sport after receiving back-to-back technical fouls with slightly below 5 minutes to go within the first half.
He picked up his first for slamming his fist on the scorers’ desk protesting the shortage of a name on what he thought was a Villanova foul. He was tossed from the sport seconds later by referee James Breeding after turning to the gang and waving his arms within the air, imploring followers to get loud.
“It was surreal. I used to be shocked,” Hurley mentioned. “I suppose I’ll wait to see what the Huge East (does). I’m very keen to seek out out from the top of officers what the reason was.”
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Villanova: The Wildcats path solely Windfall (12-2) within the convention standings with two video games left for the Wildcats to play, together with a house recreation in opposition to the Friars subsequent week. The highest 5 finishers within the common season earn a first-round bye within the Huge East Match.
UConn: The Huskies’ final win over the Wildcats got here within the third spherical of the 2014 NCAA Match on the best way to this system’s fourth nationwide title. Their final regular-season win within the sequence got here in 2012. UConn got here into the sport having misplaced 5 straight to the Wildcats, together with 85-74 on Feb. 5 in Philadelphia. The win was the primary for UConn in 13 video games in opposition to an opponent ranked within the prime 10. The Huskies are 3-3 this season in opposition to High 25 groups.
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