University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
14-16
Temple University
22-8
Big Nights from Vital and Carlton Not Enough, UConn Falls to Temple 78-71
3/7/2019 10:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
STORRS, Conn. – Closing out the 2018-19 home slate at Gampel Pavilion, UConn men's basketball team dropped a tight contest to Temple, 78-71, Thursday night at Gampel Pavilion. UConn sees its record fall to 14-16, while Temple improves to 22-8.
Junior Christian Vital led the way for the Huskies, finishing with 26 points on 8-for-13 shooting to go along with seven rebounds. Sophomore big man Josh Carlton posted a new career-high as he scored 21 points and pulled down seven rebounds, while classmate Tyler Polley was the third Husky in double figures with 13.
UConn got off to a rough start shooting from the field and Temple took quick advantage of it as the Owls jumped out to a quick 9-0 start and held a 24-14 lead with eight minutes to go in the first half. The Huskies quickly cut that lead to one after a steal and transition dunk from Vital, but Temple closed the half strong to take a five-point advantage into the intermission, 35-30.
Carlton tallied 13 of his 21 points and Vital added 11 of his 26 points in the second half as UConn opened the second frame on a 23-12 run to take hold of a 53-47 lead with just over 11 to go. Temple countered, and retook the lead after Shizz Alston Jr. made a jumper in the paint and cashed in from beyond the arc. Following back-and-forth action over the closing minutes, the Owls knocked down a clutch 3-pointer with just over three to go to put them up by six. The Huskies cut the gap to three twice, but Temple made six free throws down the stretch to earn the 78-71 result.
Game Notes / Husky Highlights…
- Three UConn players finished in double-figures: Vital (26), Carlton (21) and Polley (13).
- Josh Carlton's 21 points marked a new career-high in that category, while Vital's 26 set a new season high for the junior.
Next Up…
UConn plays its last game of the 2018-19 regular season on the road, traveling to Greenville, N.C., to take on ECU on Sunday, March 10, 2019, at Minges Coliseum. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. tipoff and will be televised on ESPNU.
