Huskies Overrun Minutemen

Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun remembers the old days Massachusetts had big post players, Connecticut was trouble from the perimeter.

This year, they've swapped styles and strengths as No. 7 Connecticut used a strong inside game to hold off the uptempo Minutemen 79-65 on Monday.

Calhoun said UConn (3-1) doesn't look like teams of the past, "we have size inside and we'll play to that."

The three accounted for 22 points, 17 rebounds and all seven of UConn's blocks. UConn (3-1) outrebounded UMass 48-39, led by Edmund Saunders' 10 rebounds.

"We gave away too many second shots," UMass coach Bruiser Flint said, "and in the end they wore us down."

UMass got within 54-51 with 8:46 remaining in the game on consecutive 3-pointers from Mack, Jonathan DePina and Ronell Blizzard.

A 3-pointer from Albert Mouring and two free throws from Wane helped the Huskies build a 59-51 lead with 8:23 left. UMass had to resort to fouling at that point and the Huskies made 11-of-19 free throws down the stretch to ice the game.

Khalid El-Amin led UConn with 18 points. Saunders and Wane finished with 16 and 14, respectively.

The Huskies broke a 5-all tie with a 13-4 run early in the first half. El-Amin fueled the spurt with five points and reserves Wane and Ajou Deng each added four. The Huskies led 37-31 at the half.

Kitwana Rhymer had 17 rebounds for UMass.

Monday's game was the 102nd meeting between the schools. UConn has an eight-game winning streak against thMinutemen, winning 17 of the last 18 meetings and leads the series 64-38.

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