Field Level Media
Nov 20, 2021
Tyrese Martin collected 15 points and 11 rebounds to lead No. 23 UConn to an 87-63 win over Binghamton on Saturday afternoon in Hartford, Conn.
Adama Sanogo scored 12 points for the Huskies (4-0), who shot 49.3 percent from the floor and 46.7 percent from 3-point range. The victory marked the best start in four years under head coach Dan Hurley.
Jordan Hawkins had 11 points off the bench, Tyler Polley added 10 points and Andre Jackson finished with nine points and eight rebounds. UConn's bench contributed with 41 points.
Tyler Bertram had 15 points and Ogheneyole Akuwovo added 12 to pace Binghamton (1-3), which has lost two in a row. Bertram had a career-high 29 points in the Bearcats' 85-77 victory over Columbia on Wednesday night.
The Huskies struggled out of the gate by missing 12 of their first 13 shots before finding their rhythm. UConn ultimately secured a 37-22 lead at intermission before emerging with a 24-point victory.
UConn's 37 first-half points were a season low for the Huskies.
Tensions escalated after Akuwovo administered a hard foul to Jackson during a drive to the basket with 11:26 remaining in the second half. Sanogo stepped up to Akuwovo and exchanged words, with both players receiving a technical foul.
The game was a coaching matchup between former Seton Hall teammates Levell Sanders and Hurley.
"We played hard and didn't quit," Sanders said. "This was a learning experience and now our guys understand what it takes to compete against a team in the Top 25. We are happy to come out here and play the way we did."
UConn will open play in the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas on Wednesday against No. 21 Auburn.
Binghamton will be back in action when it hosts Hartwick on Nov. 28.
--Field Level Media