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No. 17 UConn fends off Dayton

Nov 21, 2014 - 11:15 PM San Juan, PR (SportsNetwork.com) - Ryan Boatright posted a game-high 20 points as No. 17 UConn fought off a challenge from Dayton and claimed a 75-64 victory in a second-round matchup in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

Rodney Purvis added 19 points for the Huskies (3-0), who received 14 from Daniel Hamilton en route to the tournament final.

Jordan Sibert netted 18 points and Kendall Pollard totaled 15 for the Flyers (2-1), while Dyshawn Pierre contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds in defeat.

Dayton was holding onto a slim 58-57 edge with 9:11 to play, and a bucket from Purvis less than 30 seconds later put the Huskies on top for good. Hamilton followed with a triple and Amida Brimah added a jumper to boost UConn's edge to six.

Pierre's layup with 3:46 left pulled Dayton within 66-62, before Boatright, Purvis and Brimah teamed up on an 8-0 run in the next two-plus minutes to seal the outcome.

Boatright's triple boosted UConn to a 15-5 lead less than five minutes in, but Pollard capped a brief Dayton surge which closed the gap to 17-12.

After a Brimah bucket made it a seven-point spread, the Flyers reeled off 10 in a row -- including five by Pierre -- to take a 22-19 edge.

A Purvis layup and free throw inside of five minutes left gave the Huskies a 35-28 edge, but the Flyers fought back to keep it close, eventually going up 41-39 after a Pollard slam. Boatright's two from the line forged a tie at the break.

Dayton was able to finally gain separation in the first six minutes of the second half, with Pierre's three-point play opening up a 52-47 advantage. The Flyers weren't able to nurse that lead for very long.

Game Notes

Connecticut shot just 45.5 percent from the field (25-of-55), but held Dayton to just 28.6 percent (8-of-28) in the second half to claim victory ... UConn made 19-of-24 free throws, but the Flyers connected on just 17-of-26 attempts.