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Recap: UConn Hangs on to Defeat Memphis in Gampel Pavilion

STORRS, Conn. – Sterling Gibbs scored 26 points to lead No. 23 UConn over Memphis 81-78 Saturday night at Gampel Pavilion in American Athletic Conference action.

The Huskies (11-4, 2-1 AAC) went 10-for-12 at the foul line in the final two minutes to edge the Tigers (10-5, 1-1), who had won both games last season in the series.

Rodney Purvis added 13 points, Daniel Hamilton 12 and Shonn Miller 11 for the Huskies, who head out on the road for two games. Shaq Goodwin led Memphis with 23 points and Trahson Burrell added 17.

The Tigers used a 10-2 run, which followed Sterling Gibbs receiving a technical foul, to grab an 18-11 lead with 12:07 left in the first half.

Memphis lost senior center Shaq Goodwin to early foul trouble – he sat the final 16:08 of the first half – but was effective on the perimeter to lead early on and also on the glass (11-3 edge on second-chance points). The Tigers finished 5-for-11 on the 3-pointers in the half with Lawson and Tarrant Jr. each making two.

UConn shot 42.9 percent (12-for-28) in the opening half, but struggled for much of it and trailed 25-17 with 8:17to go. Daniel Hamilton woke up the Huskies with a 3-pointer that sparked a 15-4 run that resulted in UConn’s 32-29 lead with 4:28 left.

Purvis, who scored 11 points in the half, gave UConn its first lead since 9-8 when he dropped a 3-pointer. Hamilton added a second 3 in the half to give UConn a 39-37 lead at the break.

Sterling Gibbs led the Huskies with 26 points, scoring some very timely baskets in the final minutes of the game.
Sterling Gibbs led the Huskies with 26 points, scoring some very timely baskets in the final minutes of the game. (Ian Bethune)
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