UConn MBB Rolls Over Le Cannet Basket, 132

Men's Basketball 8/5/2023 7:05:00 PM

UConn Athletic Communications / Aug. 5, 2023

UCONN GAME STATS

LE CANNET, France – The first performance against an outside opponent for UConn men's basketball, circa 2023-24, was c'est manifique!

In the first game of its three-game Foreign Tour on Saturday night, the Huskies challenged Le Cannet Basket and won in convincing fashion, 132-66, before some 250 fans at the French team's home court.

"The winning streak continues," UConn Coach Dan Hurley said with a smile, referring to last season's six-game winning streak that propelled the Huskies to the NCAA National Championship. "Really, it shows that the hard work we do in the summer pays off. We think it puts us a little ahead of everybody else."

Looking to blend the returning core of veterans with their group of new players, the Huskies found it to be an easy mix, getting 81 points from seven returnees and 51 from five newcomers. All 12 players who appeared in the game scored, while freshman Jaylin Stewart was feeling ill and did not play.

Leading the scoring pack was sophomore forward Alex Karaban with 20 points, including 5-of-7 from three-point range. Grad student Tristen Newton had 18, sophomore Donovan Clingan added 16, freshman Stephon Castle had 15 and grad Cam Spencer chipped in with 13.

Junior Samson Johnson had 12 points and led the rebounding with 8, while Spencer (6) and senior Hasson Diarra (5) combined for 11 assists.

The game was played under FIBA rules, including four 10-minute quarters instead of two 20-minute halves.

"You saw a group of veterans – Alex, Tristen, Donovan and the others – who really know how to play," Hurley said, "and a group of freshmen who have worked extremely hard to learn. I loved the unselfish passing to try and get good shots and just the overall winning attitude."

The Huskies, who leave early Sunday morning on a flight to Barcelona to complete the Foreign Tour, didn't waste much time putting Le Cannett in their rear-view mirror, hitting 8-of-12 three-pointers in the opening quarter to jump out to a 38-22 lead.

Coach Hurley subbed early and often, but the Huskies hardly missed a beat with the reserves in the game, running the lead to 67-40 at the half and 101-48 at the end of the third quarter, when the UConn defense held Le Cannet to just 8 points.

Le Cannet Basket is a team that won France's fifth division championship just last June and will be moving up to the fourth division this coming season.

The Huskies, upon their arrival in Spain on Sunday morning, have a full day planned, including a tour of La Sagrada Familia, and getting in some practice time. The team will meet a Spanish Select Team on Monday and a second Spanish Select Team on Tuesday before taking a day of sightseeing on Wednesday and leaving for home on Thursday.

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