University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Morehead State University
Men’s Hoops Earns 80-70 Victory Over Morehead State in Coach Hurley’s Debut
11/8/2018 9:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Carlton Leads Four Huskies in Double-Figure Scoring
Sophomory center Josh Carlton scored 17 points on 8-10 shooting and snared eight rebounds while the backcourt duo of Jalen Adams and Alterique Gilbert combined for 31 points as the University of Connecticut men's basketball team defeated Morehead State, 80-70, on Thursday evening in front of a sold out crowd in Gampel Pavilion.
The contest marked the regular-season debut of head coach Dan Hurley.
Carlton's 17 eclipsed his career high of 15 points while he added two blocks and two steals in 27-miutes of action. Adams was 7-12 from the field while Gilbert chipped in with four assists and four rebounds.
Tarin Smith, a graduate transfer from Duquesne, enjoyed a solid debut as the Ocean Township, N.J. native scored 12 points, snared four rebounds and dropped four dimes in 31-minutes.
After leading by as many as 13 in the first half, UConn entered halftime with a four-point edge, 37-33. The two teams went back and forth early on in the second half but the Huskies seized control of the game with a 13-4 run over a 3:10 stretch and led 66-51 with 8:22 remaining in the contest.
The Eagles did not show any quit until the final buzzer but the Huskies were able to keep MSU at arm's length for the remainder of the contest.
UConn shot 48.4 percent from the field and won the battle of the boards, 41-36. Lamontray Harris led the way for Morehead State with 16 points and 13 caroms.
The first points of the Hurley era at UConn were scored by Josh Carlton, who converted on a fast break layup just 14-seconds into the contest. Christian Vital created the opportunity by picking the pocket of Morehead State guard A.J. Hicks and the Huskies took a lead they would not relinquish.
MSU would hang with the Huskies in the early stages of the first half and knotted things up, 9-9, at the 14:48 mark. However, UConn would score the next seven points and extended the lead to 33-20 after Vital buried a three-pointer at with 5:45 remaining in the first stanza.
The Eagles would end the half on a 13-4 and the Huskies took a 37-33 lead into the locker room.
UConn returns to action on Sunday, November 11 when the Huskies welcome UMKC to Storrs. Game time is set for 5 p.m. in Gampel Pavilion and is the second round of the 2K Empire Classic.
