STORRS, Conn. (AP)—Three days after struggling to beat Army, Connecticut worked out all the kinks against Texas Southern, nearly setting a record in the process.
Rudy Gay had 22 points and Josh Boone dominated inside with 12 rebounds and six blocks to lead the third-ranked Huskies (6-0) to a 113-49 win Friday night.
The Huskies’ point total was just three shy of the Gampel record, set in 2002 in a 116-78 win over in-state rival Sacred Heart.
“This game we really tried to work hard on our defense and work hard on getting to the offensive glass,” Boone said. “We started to run a little bit more and it’s one of the things we’re going to have to do to be successful this year.”
Boone finished with 17 points and anchored an inside game that outrebounded the Tigers 56-28 and outscored the visitors 46-18 in the paint. The Tigers (1-5) also had their hands full with Rashad Anderson on the perimeter. The senior sharpshooter had three of the Huskies’ 10 3-pointers and finished with 20 points.
“Rashad’s job is to shoot the ball. I don’t have to tell him and he doesn’t have to ask,” UConn coach Jim Calhoun said.
The sellout crowd of 10,167 had plenty to cheer about even before the game began.
During pregame, UConn unveiled Calhoun’s Hall of Fame banner. Calhoun, inducted in September, has led UConn to a pair of NCAA titles (1999, 2004). His banner was unfurled between both title pennants to a thunderous ovation.
“I couldn’t ask for anything better for coach,” Anderson said. “It’s an honor to be playing for him. Why wouldn’t you want to play for a Hall of Fame coach who’s got numerous guys in the NBA?”
For Anderson, Calhoun has been much more than a coach. Hospitalized with a life-threatening leg infection for nearly two weeks last season, Anderson could count on Calhoun’s support throughout the ordeal.
“He never left my side,” Anderson said. “That’s the type of guy he is off the court. I love him to death.”
Anderson came off the bench to provide a spark for the second straight game. He played just 10 minutes in the first half, scoring 11 points, including all three of his 3-pointers. Earlier his season, he eclipsed the 1,000-point mark.
On Friday night, he watched teammate Denham Brown do the same. Brown finished with 15 points and his breakaway dunk early in the second half put the senior guard over the 1,000 points for his career.
“I told him `welcome to the club,”’ Anderson said.
Ike Count, the only Texas Southern player in double figures, finished with 15 points as the Tigers shot just 28 percent.
The Huskies put this one away early.
Boone had 11 points in a 30-7 run in the final 7 minutes of the first half and the Huskies led 55-22 at the break.
Gay had five of UConn’s 12 steals, and the Huskies scored 30 points off turnovers.
“This is one of those games where I don’t have an awful lot of complaints,” Calhoun said.
