National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Connecticut 65, Charleston 57
When: 12:30 PM ET, Thursday, November 20, 2014
Where: Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan
Officials: # Jeff Anderson, # Hal Lusk, # Mark Schnur
Attendance: 6723

No. 17 Connecticut 65, Charleston 57: Ryan Boatright recorded 19 points, six rebounds and five assists as the Huskies held off the Cougars in the first round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in San Juan.

Freshman Daniel Hamilton added 15 points, including three 3-pointers, as UConn (2-0) moved into Friday’s semifinals against Dayton. Amida Brimah contributed 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting and transfer Rodney Purvis scored nine in his debut for the Huskies after sitting out a one-game NCAA suspension.

Anthony Stitt led the way with 17 points while Adjehi Baru chipped in with 12 points and 10 rebounds for Charleston (1-2), which plays Texas A&M in the consolation round Friday. Joe Chealey registered 12 points and Canyon Barry added 10 for the Cougars.

Boatright scored eight as UConn sprinted to a 16-6 lead out of the gate before going cold from the field as Charleston fought back within two. The Huskies shot only 32.1 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, but two late 3-pointers by Hamilton gave them a 30-21 lead at intermission.

Stitt drained a pair of 3-pointers and Cameron Johnson made another during a 9-2 burst as Charleston closed the gap to 47-43 with 8:25 left before Boatright followed with a three-point play. Stitt’s 3-pointer pulled the Cougars within 61-57 with 22 seconds left, but Boatright and Hamilton each made two free throws to seal it.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Huskies finished with a 36-26 edge on the boards. … Charleston G Donovan Gilmore, the reigning Rookie of the Week in the Colonial Athletic Conference, was saddled with foul trouble and finished with two points and six rebounds. … UConn is 26-4 during their last 10 November tournaments.
Top Game Performances
 
Charleston   Connecticut
Anthony Stitt 17 Scoring Ryan Boatright 19
Cameron Johnson 4 Assists Ryan Boatright 5
Adjehi Baru 10 Rebounds Ryan Boatright 6
Adjehi Baru 4 Free Throws Made Ryan Boatright 6
Adjehi Baru 2 Steals Sam Cassell Jr. 2
Canyon Barry 1 Blocks Amida Brimah 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Charleston 57 43.5 7-15 10-15 9 23 3 6 13
Connecticut 65 44.7 6-16 17-27 13 25 1 3 13