Recap: UConn Falls to Cincinnati, 58-57

HARTFORD, Conn. – Gary Clark converted a three-point play with 12.1 seconds remaining to lift Cincinnati over UConn 58-57 Thursday night in front of 13,232 fans at the XL Center.

Clark was fouled by Shonn Miller on his jump shot, which went in, and then hit the free-throw to win the game for the Bearcats (16-6, 6-3 American Athletic Conference). Sterling Gibbs, Shonn Miller and Jalen Adams, who took a desperate 3-point heave, all missed attempts in the final five seconds for the Huskies (14-6, 4-3).

Gibbs scored 14 points, Rodney Purvis 12 and Adams and Miller each had 11. Clark and Farad Cobb each scored 13 for the Bearcats, who missed 13 straight shots at one point in the second half.

After tying its largest lead, 43-36, to open the half on a Hamilton 3-pointer, the Huskies allowed Cincinnati to climb back into it with a 9-0 run that gave the visiting team a 45-43 lead with 13:50 to play.

It was a typical UConn-Cincinnati battle from there as neither team led by more than three points over the next 10 minutes. Adams gave UConn a 57-53 lead with 1:42 left, but Cincy cut it to two with 59 seconds to go on Jacob Evans’ basket.

UConn closed the game making just 1 of its final 12 shots, while Cincy was 2-for-8. Adams made the lone basket on a layup with 1:44 left.

The UConn big men got into early foul trouble with Phil Nolan picking up his second just 1:49 into the game. Kentan Facey received his second foul with 15:52 remaining, which meant freshman Steve Enoch got early action.

Cincinnati raced out to an 8-2 lead, but the Huskies stormed back with a 7-0 run that was aided by five Bearcats’ turnovers. Purvis came off the bench to score five of those points and Miller dunks on a Hamilton alley oops to make it 9-8 with 12:05 to play.

The teams swapped mini runs and the lead from there. Cincy led 25-20 with4:01left, but then Gibbs went red hot from the perimeter, hitting three straight 3-pointers to give UConn a 29-27 lead.

Purvis added another 3-pointers as the Huskies closed the half making 7 of 8 shots – the lone miss came from Gibbs’ half-court heave at the buzzer – to lead 36-31.

Gibbs had 11 first-half points while Purvis added 10 as UConn shot 50 percent in the half (14-for-28). Ellis led Cincy with eight.

NOTES: Shabazz Napier attended the game. … Both coaching staffs wore sneakers and casual attire to honor Coaches vs. Cancer. Ollie still wore a sports coat, but no tie. … Mick Cronin won his 200th game on -Sunday when the Bearcats beat Tulane 97-75. … Adams was back in the opening lineup after not starting the Georgetown game due to a coach’s decisions. … Despite trailing much of the game, UConn finished tied in rebounds with 36 apiece.