MORGANTOWN — No. 5-ranked Connecticut outlasted No. 25 West Virginia 61-55 in Tuesday night’s Big East home opener at the Coliseum.

The Huskies simply were too tall, too talented and too experienced over the long haul in an extremely physical, low-scoring contest before a near-capacity crowd of 13,920 highly vocal spectators.

Behind by just a point at 56-55, the Mountaineers were scoreless during the final two minutes as UConn added a field goal and three free throws to its total.

The two teams were tied 29-29 at halftime, thanks to Wellington Smith’s desperation three-point shot from far out. But the edge went to the Huskies in the final 20 minutes, 32-26.

In snapping WVU’s five-game winning streak, UConn made its record 13-1 overall and 2-1 in the conference. The Mountaineers now are 11-3 and 1-1.

“They’re a foot taller than we are,” WVU coach Bob Huggins observed. “I told you guys we’re getting unbelievable mileage out of three freshmen. I told you before the game that now we’re playing against men.

“We’re playing against 22-year-old men. Twenty-two-year-old guys are a lot bigger and a lot stronger.”

Huggins went on to point out that when Da’Sean Butler and Alex Ruoff go 9-for-29 from the field, the team simply isn’t going to win, especially against a team like Connecticut.

“We’re not good enough. We’re not big enough. We’re not strong enough,” Huggins said.

Indeed, that pretty much was the story Tuesday night.

Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said, “Well, obviously when you see a game that has eight ties and 20 lead changes — that is 20 times in a 40-minute basketball game that it was either tied or the lead changed hands.

“It really was an incredibly competitive game.

“First thing, I want to give incredible tribute to West Virginia. I had seen them against Ohio State and Seton Hall in particular. I really got nervous about the way they were able to control the inside.

“Our biggest emphasis tonight was to bang the boards and at 52-33 I think we did a pretty good job.”

West Virginia shot 36.7 percent from the field in the stalemated first half and UConn only 28.1 percent. But in the decisive second half the Huskies shot a sizzling 57.1 percent and the Mountaineers only 25.9 percent.

Jeff Adrien led the winning attack with 17 points, including 13 in the second half.

Hasheem Thabeet, 7-3 junior center, had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Jerome Dyson had 11 points, including just two in the first half, and Kemba Walker chipped in 10 points.

Ruoff and Butler scored 13 each to lead West Virginia. Freshman Darryl “Truck” Bryant had 11.

West Virginia’s largest lead of the night was four points on a couple of occasions. UConn’s biggest margin was six at game’s end.

The Mountaineers visit Marquette for another game against a nationally ranked Big East team at noon Saturday.



No. 5 CONNECTICUT (13-1)

Adrien 7-11 3-3 17, Robinson 3-7 1-2 7, Thabeet 5-9 3-4 13, Dyson 3-7 5-8 11, Price 0-9 1-2 1, Walker 2-8 5-8 10, Austrie 1-2 0-0 2, Edwards 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-53 18-27 61.

No. 25 WEST VIRGINIA (11-3)

Butler 5-13 1-2 13, Ebanks 2-8 0-0 4, Smith 4-12 0-0 9, Ruoff 4-16 3-4 13, Bryant 3-11 4-4 11, Thoroughman 1-1 0-1 2, Jones 0-2 0-0 0, Thomas 0-0 0-0 0, Flowers 1-3 1-1 3. Totals 20-66 9-12 55.

Halftime—Tied 29-29. 3-Point Goals—Connecticut 1-8 (Walker 1-1, Austrie 0-1, Dyson 0-2, Price 0-4), West Virginia 6-26 (Butler 2-4, Ruoff 2-11, Bryant 1-5, Smith 1-5, Flowers 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Connecticut 52 (Robinson 15), West Virginia 33 (Smith 8). Assists—Connecticut 10 (Robinson 4), West Virginia 12 (Bryant 7). Total Fouls—Connecticut 14, West Virginia 19. A—13,920.