George Harris
Dec 02, 2023 - 06:00

UConn basketball team makes history against UNH

Donovan Clingan scored a career-high 29 points as UConn beat UNH and made Division I history. UConn is unstoppable.

Donovan Clingan had a standout performance, scoring a career-high 29 points as No. 4 Connecticut secured an 84-64 victory over UNH in Storrs, Connecticut, on Monday night. This win also made Division I history for UConn, marking their 24th consecutive nonconference victory by double digits. This impressive feat surpassed the previous record of 23 consecutive nonconference wins by at least 10 points, which was shared with North Carolina.

Clingan's exceptional performance included making his first 10 field-goal attempts and finishing 12 of 13 from the field. The Huskies dominated in the paint, boasting a 52-8 advantage in points scored inside.

Tristen Newton also made significant contributions to the Huskies' victory, recording 17 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Additionally, Cam Spencer added 17 points to UConn's winning effort.

UNH faced a challenging deficit, trailing by 15 points at halftime and struggling to find their rhythm in the second half. The Wildcats missed 13 of their first 14 field-goal attempts after halftime, experiencing a scoring drought of over eight minutes before Naim Miller finally sank a 3-pointer with 8:59 left to play.

Jaxson Baker led UNH with 20 points, showcasing an impressive performance with a career-high six 3-pointers. Clarence Daniels and Ahmad Robinson also made significant contributions to the Wildcats' effort, each adding 19 points.

The game saw a stark contrast in shooting styles, with thirteen of New Hampshire's 18 field goals being 3-pointers, while UConn struggled from behind the arc, shooting just 4 of 28.

The game started out evenly, with UConn and UNH tied at 8-8. However, UConn quickly gained momentum, scoring 20 of the next 23 points to take a commanding 28-11 lead with 8:49 remaining in the first half. Although UNH managed to narrow the gap to nine points at one stage, UConn still held a 45-30 lead at halftime.

In the first half, eight of New Hampshire's 11 field goals were 3-pointers, with Baker leading the team with 15 points. UConn extended their lead to 28 points, their largest lead of the game, with 9:17 left to play.

Overall, UConn's dominant performance and record-breaking win showcased their prowess on the court, solidifying their position as a formidable force in Division I basketball.