Box Score
Hartford, Conn. – Division I Connecticut shot 67.7percent (42-62) from the field as it posted a 106-67 win over the American International College men’s basketball team in an exhibition contest at the XL Center Wednesday night. The Huskies are ranked 12th in the Associated Press Preseason Poll and 14th in the ESPN-USA Today Preseason Poll.
Sophomore guard Kemba Walker (Bronx, N.Y.) scored a game-high 28 points after shooting 9-of-12 shooting from the field, 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and 7-of-8 from the charity stripe. He also dished out a game-high 12 assists and grabbed six rebounds.
Senior forward Stanley Robinson (Birmingham, Ala.) scored 25 points on 12-of-16 shooting from the field and grabbed seven rebounds. Senior forward Gavin Edwards (Gilbert, Ariz.) registered 15 points and five rebounds, while freshman forward/center Alex Oriakhi (Lowell, Mass.) tallied a double-double with 16 points and 16 boards.
Senior forward
Aikeem Vanderhorst (Bay Shore, N.Y.) scored each of the Yellow Jackets first seven points and finished the game with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 shooting from the free throw line. Sophomore forward
Isiah Wallace (Springfield, Mass.) poured in 17 points and pulled down 11 boards with four steals
The game was tied at 4-4 1:20 into the game before UConn went on a pair of 12-2 runs to open a 28-11 lead with 10:09 to go in the first period. The Huskies then put the game out of reach with a 19-4 run that was capped by pair of Walker free throws with 1:36 left in the opening stanza.
UConn led 57-29 at the half after shooting an incredible 75-percent (21-28) from the floor and 86.7-percent (13-15) from the line. The Yellow Jackets shot just 36.7-percent (11-30) from the field and were made only one of 11 threes in the first half.
The second half was much closer as AIC shot 42.4-percent (14-33) from the field and 38.5-percent (5-13) from beyond the arc, while the Huskies shot 61.8-percent (21-34) from the field to outscore the Yellow Jackets 49-38 in the period.
AIC will open the 2009-10 regular season November 15 when it travel to Dowling College for a non-conference contest. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.