Massachusetts UMass/Connecticut UConn Men's College Basketball recap on ESPN

His fears were unfounded after No. 11 Connecticut cruised to an 82-67 victory over Massachusetts, three days after the Huskies' two-point upset over then-No. 5 Arizona.


	Tony Robertson drives for two of his seven points as Monty Mack defends. Mack scored three -- 16 below his average.

"I saw great desire on Saturday, and today I saw confidence," said Calhoun. "They were very pragmatic and businesslike knowing we have 11 days off."

UConn (8-1) is finishing a stretch of eight games played in three weeks, and will take time off for final exams before playing host to Fairfield on Dec. 22. The Minutemen play Boston University on Thursday.

"My biggest fear is that we'd settle in. I want all our kids to be hungry," Calhoun said.

Albert Mouring led the Huskies with 20 points and was 4-for-6 from 3-point range. For Mouring, UConn's perimeter specialist, practice nearly made perfect.

"The other day after practice, I took about 50 3s, and probably made 40 of them," said Mouring. "It felt real good and I just carried it into the game."

Freshman Caron Butler added 14 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds for UConn.

Micah Brand had 13 points and nine rebounds to lead UMass (1-6), which is off to its worst start in nearly 20 years. The Minutemen shot 29 percent in the first half, their fifth straight half shooting worse than 30 percent. The Huskies took advantage in that period with a 19-8 edge on the defensive boards.

"We have to finish shots. We had some open looks that we didn't knock down," UMass coach Bruiser Flint said. "We didn't defend. And they're not one of those teams you play against and do that."

Brand gave the Minutemen an early 10-8 lead by scoring all six points in a 6-2 run with 14:09 left in the first half. After Tony Roberston's layup tied it at 10, Mouring hit the second of his four 3-pointers to give UConn the lead for good.

The Huskies, who led by as many as 25, held UMass scoring leader Monty Mack to three points, 16 below his average.

UConn also got solid post play from reserves Johnnie Selvie and Justin Brown. Selvie had 14 points, and he and Brown each grabbed six rebounds. The 7-foot Brown also had three of UConn's seven blocks.

"When (Justin) and Johnnie come into the game, they had energy," Calhoun said.

Brown said playing through his mistakes has made the difference.

"If I wasn't able to block their shots, I was at least able to change their shots," said Brown. "I'm starting to contribute to the team."

UConn leads the series 65-38 and has won 17 of the last 18 meetings. The Huskies are 130-64 in the Civic Center, considered a neutral court for the rivalry, which became known as the "MassMutual U-Game" five years ago.

Some Minutemen fans came to the venue to back their team but also to vent their frustration with Flint. A host of signs called for his firing and suggested the unemployed Bobby Knight and the Celtics' Rick Pitino as possible replacements.

In his fifth year as head coach, Flint's team's have struggled the last two seasons, going 31-32 and missing the NCAA tournament both seasons.

"Two of our best guys go 2-for-18, you're going to struggle," Flint said.

ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard

Massachusetts Clubhouse

Connecticut Clubhouse

AUDIO/VIDEO
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Albert Mouring dishes the ball to Edmund Saunders for the finish.
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Justin Brown provides the Huskies with some presence in the paint.
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Shannon Crooks picks UConn's pocket and takes it in for the basket.
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UConn's Albert Mouring knocks down a three-pointer from NBA range.
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UMass' Winston Smith finds Jackie Rogers alone and ready for a dunk.
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UConn's Caron Butler drives the baseline and scores with the reverse.
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