Wildcat Wrap
 
Final Score: UConn 78  Wildcats 54
 
Overview: A 14-1 run by No. 1 Connecticut broke open a tight game midway through the second half, allowing the Huskies to gain control of a BIG EAST contest played Saturday night in Storrs, Conn.
 
The Wildcats put together a stellar defensive effort for the first 28 minutes, but the Huskies kicked their offense into high gear midway through the final period.
 
"UConn was extremely physical to start the game, they played well defensively and then really got out in transition in both halves," stated Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune. "I thought that was the difference in the game."
 
A New Starter: Hakim Hart returned to the starting lineup in place of forward Tyler Burton. Burton and Lance Ware both battled a non-COVID illness the past two days. Both players were on the bench in uniform and entered the game as reserves in the early going. Each logged six first half minutes and did not score.
 
"They were sick the last couple of days," said Neptune. "But it is what it is. It's part of a season. I thought both guys gave us what they had."
 
Eric Dixon scored the Wildcats first four points. Nova trailed the Huskies 5-4 after the first 4:12 of action at a sold-out Gampel Pavilion on the night of former standout Richard Hamilton's jersey retirement. A Tristan Newton 3-pointer with Hart's hand in his face extended the lead to 8-4.
 
A TJ Bamba drive for two gave VU a 10-8 lead but the Huskies scored the next four points to retake the lead at 12-10 with 10:55 on the first half clock. Both teams were locked in defensively as UConn converted 5-of-15 from the field to open the contest while the 'Cats were 4-of-14.
 
The Huskies broke through with some offense midway through the period, keyed by a Cam Spencer 3-pointer. UConn led 18-12 with 6:10 left in the first half.
 
Villanova, under frequent duress, misfired on its first seven attempts from beyond the 3-point arc. Justin Moore sank the Wildcats first 3-pointer of the night off a set play with a bit under six minutes to play in the period. But UConn picked up its fourth 3-pointer of the half and pushed its advantage back to six, 23-17, at the 3:40 mark of the first half.
 
When Spencer dropped in a transition 3-pointer, UConn's lead was 26-17. Villanova got a bucket from Bamba but Newton followed with another 3-pointer, giving the Huskies a 29-19 lead with 1:51 on the clock.
 
When the final horn sounded to end the period, UConn held a 31-21 lead.
 
The Wildcats limited the Huskies to 11-of-28 shooting in the first half (39 percent) but UConn was even better defensively, holding Villanova to 9-of-30 shooting from the floor, including 1-of-10 from distance.
 
Act Two: The Wildcats were unable to convert on their first four attempts from the field in the second half before Dixon used a nice fake and drive to the goal to score two. But four points from Donovan Clingan gave the Huskies a 35-23 lead three minutes into the period.
 
But the Wildcats used a Mark Armstrong steal and dunk followed by a Dixon 3-pointer were part of a 7-0 run that narrowed the deficit to 38-33 after 5:03 of the second half.
 
Spencer scored on a drive and added a free throw at the 13:01 mark to push the margin back up to 45-37. Two Dixon free throws closed the gap to 45-39 with 11:51 left in the contest and Bamba added another to close the margin to five.
 
Another burst fueled by Spencer – he scored the first six points of a 12-0 burst that pushed the lead up to 57-40 with just under nine minutes remaining.
 
What They Said: Neptune on UConn's defense: "They're a really good defensive team. In the halfcourt, it's tough to score on them. They're extremely physical and they're disciplined. They have good size at each point. I thought we did a good job against them in the halfcourt. Unfortunately, they really got out in transition."