STORRS, Conn. — UConn has rarely had to spend this much energy to win a second-round NCAA Tournament game, rarely, if ever, had to work this hard for a win over an American Athletic Conference opponent.
But UCF’s players and coaches made it clear they were not afraid, didn’t come to Connecticut to kiss anyone’s rings. The Knights pushed and shoved, dived and clawed, and made the Huskies play their rough and tumble game.
And UConn was up to the challenge, shaking off a first-quarter shooting slump, hitting big shots in the second half and free throws down the stretch to survive 52-57 before 10,167 at sold-out Gampel Pavilion on Monday night.
