Central Conn. St. Blue Devils vs Connecticut Huskies Match Player Stats On Nov 09, 2021

Adama Sanogo scored 20 points and R.J. Cole added 15 to lift No. 24 UConn to a 99-48 season-opening victory over Central Connecticut State on Tuesday in Storrs, Conn.

Sanogo made 9 of 11 shots from the floor and Cole sank 5 of 6 shots -- including all three from 3-point range.

Tyrese Martin scored 14 points and Tyler Polley added 11 off the bench for the Huskies, who returned all but one starter from last season's team.

UConn shot a blistering 67.9 percent from the floor (19 of 28) in the first half to take a 52-23 lead at intermission. The Huskies put it on cruise control from there to improve to 16-0 all-time against Central Connecticut State.

Joe Ostrowsky scored 12 points off the bench and Nigel Scantlebury scored nine of his 11 points in the first half for the Blue Devils, who fell in Patrick Sellers' debut as head coach of his alma mater. Central Connecticut, which committed 29 turnovers, is attempting to improve upon a 5-16 record in 2020-21.

UConn made its first eight shots and scored 13 straight points to take a 22-5 lead. Sanogo sank all four of his shots from the floor in that stretch and Martin and Cole each added five points.

Scantlebury sandwiched a pair of layups around a 3-pointer to help Central Connecticut slow the momentum, but Jalen Gaffney and Cole each drained a 3-pointer to ignite a 15-0 run and boost UConn's lead to 41-14.

Sanogo made three quick shots to highlight the Huskies' 10-2 run to start the second half to increase his team's lead to 62-25.

Ostrowsky drained a pair of 3-pointers in the second half to help Central trim its deficit to 70-35, however Cole and Akok Akok each converted from arc to halt any semblance of momentum.

UConn kept the pressure on and extended its lead to 89-44 after Martin's 3-pointer.

The rest was academic.

--Field Level Media