UConn’s Clingan (foot) returns, scores 6 in win

Jan 17, 2024, 09:46 PM ET STORRS, Conn.– Top-ranked UConn welcomed back star center Donovan Clingan from injury Wednesday and utilized a stifling defense to beat No. 18 Creighton 62-48.

Tristen Newton scored 16 points for the Huskies (16-2, 6-1 Big East), who were playing their very first game ranked No. 1 because 2009. Camera Spencer and Alex Karaban each had 13 points, with all of Karaban’s scoring can be found in the 2nd half.Clingan, a 7-foot-2 sophomore, came off the bench to score 6 points and get 5 rebounds in 16 minutes.Editor’s Picks Steven Ashworth led Creighton(13-5, 4-3)with 14 points. Baylor Scheierman,

who entered the game balancing 18 points a game, included 12. UConn dominated down low, outscoring Creighton 36-20 in the paint and outrebounding it 48-32

.”We were simply tough, male,”UConn coach Dan Hurley stated.”We were Big East tough.”The Huskies led by

11 points at the half and utilized a 9-0 run to increase 41-23 early in 2nd half.An alley-oop dunk from Stephon Castle to Clingan provided the Huskies their first 20-point lead at 48-28. The Bluejays utilized an 18-8 run

to cut the cause 10 points on a 3-pointer by Scheierman with 2 1/2 minutes left.Clingan, who missed the past 5 games with a tendon injury in his ideal foot, looked into the game with 11:42 left in the first half and the score tied at 12.

The Huskies scored the next 7 points, part of a 14-2 run that provided a 23-14 lead.Clingan got his very first block with just under 5 minutes left in the half and his first basket on a putback with just over four minutes left. The Huskies outscored the Bluejays 15-4 when he was in the game in the first half. “It felt great just to go out there and fight with the guys in front of the home crowd,”Clingan said.”Just to get that win, it was a big win for us and it felt great.” The Associated Press added to this story.