Notes & Quotes: Sluggish Huskies fend off the MVSU Delta Devils

HARTFORD - Cam Spencer scored a game-high 25 points to help No. 5 UConn defeat Mississippi Valley State 87-53 on Tuesday night at the XL Center.

Even though the Huskies (3-0) never trailed and all five starters scored in double digits while they hit 55 percent of their shots, held their opponent to 32 percent, and out-rebounded them, 41-30, head coach Dan Hurley was not pleased with his team’s performance on multiple dimensions.

He used the words “soft” and “terrible discipline.” Hurley added that he expected more from his team leaders. Freshman Stephon Castle sat out this contest with a knee injury that they found out about in the days after the Stonehill game.

“We didn't come out in the first half with the energy, we didn’t play the way that UConn plays,” Donovan Clingan said.

Spencer’s seven 3-pointers (7-of-11 3FG) were two short of Ray Allen’s school-record nine, which he achieved against Rutgers on Feb. 28, 1996. Clingan added 17 points, while Alex Karaban had 14, playing a bit less than expected due to foul trouble. Freshman Solomon Ball, starting in Castle’s place, and Tristen Newton added 10 points each. Samson Johnson was the top scorer off the bench with five points but Hurley said the big man’s performance was a “step back.”

It’s the second time in three games the Huskies have held an opponent under 55 points. Rayquan Brown led the Delta Devils (0-3) with 18 points.

Here’s a closer look at the team’s third win of the season:

What Went Well

1. Spencer’s Shot: Spencer shook off a woeful shooting performance (3 of 11) against Stonehill to have his best scoring night as a Husky. He was 9-for-14 from the field in a team-high 30 minutes. He moves the ball around the perimeter quickly and confidently and on this night he was draining threes at a time when many UConn players were not at their best.

Spencer: “I couldn’t throw it in the ocean the other night, so to see a few go in tonight was great.”

Hurley: “That’s something we see on a daily basis with Cam. The shooting is something he’s been able to do through his whole career, so we knew that was going to change.”

2. Clingan Crushes: Donovan Clingan went 7-of-8 from the field, asserting himself early and often. He was dominant down low against a team that had no answer for him.

What Needs Work

1. Getting After It: The Huskies won the board battle 41-30, but their head coach thought their post players should have done better. MVSU and UConn each finished with 14 offensive rebounds - which was an area the national champions shined in last season.

Hurley: “Not particularly pleased with tonight’s performance. I thought the rebounding, just what went on on the backboards, especially early and particularly times in the second half, is not something we’ve seen from the team in a couple years here. I thought we looked soft and we just had terrible discipline in terms of fouls.”  

2. Leaders (not) Leading: Hurley specifically called out his new “big three” for letting MVSU hang around in the first half. Karaban battled foul trouble all game, and along with Clingan and Newton failed to elevate the younger players.

Hurley: “I don’t think the old guys helped the young guys today. Look we are going to promote and we work our ass off with these guys 11 months a year … we have a chance on game night to show people who we are and show our preparation and our excellence. I let the team know, particularly the older guys (we didn’t deliver).”

Newton: We came out flat-footed, low energy, so when they see that they are going to feed off us. So we have to…show them the ropes, They don’t really know what to do yet, they haven't been in any pressure-type games.”  

MISC. NOTES

Hurley said Castle slipped on the court Saturday against Stonehill and will have an update later in the week. “I don’t think we’re nervous about this being a long-term thing,” Hurley said. “We think it’s pretty minor.” … Spencer surpassed his season-high from last year at Rutgers, 23 points … It was UConn’s 20th straight double-digit victory against a non-conference opponent. … The Huskies moved up one spot on Monday in the latest AP poll … With Castle out of the lineup, Ball got his first collegiate start. … The Huskies’ next home game is Nov. 24 against Manhattan at the XL Center.

UP NEXT

Sunday, vs. Indiana, at Madison Square Garden in New York, 1 p.m. (ESPN)