No. 22 Xavier hands No. 2 UConn its very first loss
CINCINNATI– Zach Freemantle scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Colby Jones also scored 16, helping No. 22 Xavier hand No. 2 UConn its first loss of the season, 83-73, on Saturday.Jack Nunge started for Xavier regardless of a health problem that limited him throughout warmups. He didn’t rejoin the group after halftime up until a number of minutes into the half but finished with 15 points in 24 minutes. “Thirty minutes before tipoff, he was sleeping, “Xavier coach Sean Miller stated.”He looked horrible, but he didn’t have a fever. He did the best that he could. We definitely wouldn’t have won if he didn’t play.”
Nunge’s effort wasn’t lost on his teammates.
“Jack came through in the biggest method,” Freemantle stated. “He remained in there getting fluids, then to see him be that impactful was motivating.”
Xavier (12-3, 4-0 Big East), which joined the AP Top 25 rankings this week, won its eighth consecutive game. Its 3 losses have actually come by a combined 13 indicate Indiana, Duke and Gonzaga.Adama Sanogo led UConn with 18 points. Andre Jackson Jr. scored 14 points and Jordan Hawkins had 11 for the Huskies.UConn (14-1, 3-1 Big East)was off to its best start given that beginning the 1998 season 19-0 and going on to win its first NCAA championship. The loss Saturday kept the Huskies from their finest start considering that 1994-95 and left No. 1 Purdue and No. 22 New Mexico as the only unbeaten Department I groups this season. “The group is real down,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said.”These men wished to make a declaration on the road and have a possibility to be No. 1 on Monday. Xavier’s as good as anyone in the league. Few groups in the country might have been available in here and won this game. “Jerome Hunter’s 15 points for Xavier connected a profession high. He had a career-high 10 rebounds in a win Wednesday at St. John’s, all off the bench.”Jerome was the distinction in the game tonight,”Miller said.”His energy was infectious. “Hurley ended up being significantly
displeased by the totally free throw variation. Xavier went 23-of-28 from the line while UConn was just 4-of-9. With Xavier leading 74-71 with 2:25 to go after a Freemantle complimentary throw, Hurley was evaluated a technical nasty for barking at the referees.
Souley Boum struck 2 free tosses and Freemantle made his 2nd, putting Xavier ahead 77-71. The Musketeers completed the game on a 12-2 run. “Put yourself in my shoes,”Hurley stated.” You know the totally free throw discrepancy. You see that.
It’s factored into your mind. I wish I would not have said
‘astounding.'” Xavier led by as numerous as 10 points in the first half, but UConn ended the half on a 16-5 run to take a one-point lead into halftime.Freemantle had 11 points and six rebounds in the very first half to
help the Musketeers leave to a fast start.His corner 3-pointer put the Musketeers ahead 66-62 with 7:17 left.”We beat among the best teams in college basketball,”Miller stated. “They are a very gifted, well-oiled group. You need to beat them. They don’t beat themselves.
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