NJIT @ Connecticut preview

Connecticut looked like themselves again on offense in a rout of New Hampshire. The Huskies will look to repeat that performance and enter American Athletic Conference play on a high note when they host New Jersey Institute of Technology on Sunday, a team that is on a seven-game losing streak against Division I teams.

After turning the ball over a whopping 48 times in two contests, the Huskies took much better care of the ball against UNH, yielding just 10 turnovers. Veteran guards Alterique Gilbert and Christian Vital, who coughed it up 18 times in the previous two games, did so just three times, with Vital having none. Connecticut has won five of its last six behind strong defense, as opponents are averaging 55.3 points in that span and none have exceeded 62 points. That trend could continue as NJIT is 323rd in the nation with a .398 field goal percentage.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, SNY.

ABOUT NJIT (3-9): Though standing just 5-foot-9, junior guard Zach Cooks has proven to be one of the best scorers in the country: his 23.1 points per game is sixth-best, he’s reached double digits in every game and has led the Highlanders in scoring in all but one. Sophomore big man Souleymane Diakite has notched double-doubles in the last two contests, averaging 11.5 points and 15.5 rebounds. Junior forward San Antonio Brinson, who is the team’s second-leading scorer and even reached 22 points against Binghamton, has been rendered scoreless the last two contests, seeing single-digit minutes in each.

ABOUT CONNECTICUT (8-3): After taking on more of a facilitator role for most of the season, Gilbert exploded for 21 points on 50 percent shooting and still leads the conference with 4.8 dishes per game. Vital, still the team’s leading scorer, looked back in form, dropping 15 points after failing to eclipse double digits in the previous two games and is the team’s leading rebounder despite standing just 6-2. After seemingly disappearing from the offense for two games, freshman James Bouknight is back to shooting with confidence, making 7 of 12 shots after taking just five shots in the previous two games.

TIP-INS

1. Vital is 14th in the country with 2.55 steals per game.

2. UConn is 7-1 in non-conference games at the XL Center under Dan Hurley.

3. The game features a battle of shot-blockers as Diakite leads the Atlantic Sun with 22 blocks while UConn freshman Akok Akok is tied for 16th in the country with 32.

PREDICTION: UConn 85, NJIT 60