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Napier's triple-double leads UConn past Coppin State

Nov 21, 2011 - 12:15 AM Hartford, CT (Sports Network) - Shabazz Napier finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists for his first career triple-double, leading No. 4 Connecticut to an 87-70 win over Coppin State at XL Center.

Jeremy Lamb netted 25 points, and Tyler Olander added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Roscoe Smith chipped in 15 points and four boards off the bench for the Huskies (4-0).

UConn has won 15 straight games dating back to last season. It is the longest active winning streak in the country and the third-longest in school history.

"To come in and do a triple double, with all that pressure on him: Don't foul, take care of the ball, let's not turn it over. He was really good," UConn head coach Jim Calhoun said. "I thought he was just terrific, and I loved his spirit, keeping everybody up."

Tony Gallo paced Coppin State (1-3) with 20 points and six assists, while Akeem Ellis added 16 points and eight rebounds.

Michael Harper contributed 16 points off the Eagles' bench.

Coppin State jumped out to a six point lead, 12-6, with 14 minutes to play in the first half, and the Eagles went up 27-14 on a Harper free throw midway through the period.

But the defending national champions woke up, going on a 12-0 run over the next three-plus minutes.

After that run ended, a jumper by Napier with just more than five minutes to play put the Huskies ahead, 30-29.

Lamb closed the half with a three-pointer and jumper to give UConn a 41-34 lead at the break, then drained a three to begin the second half.

A three-pointer by Napier with 13 minutes to play put the Huskies up 14, 64-50, and they were up by double digits the rest of the way.

"Of course the results are not what I wanted," Coppin State head coach Ron Mitchell said. "You've got to give Connecticut credit for putting the pressure on us. When they had to turn it up, they turned it up. When the second half started, they continued the pressure and we never really got going after that."

Game Notes

UConn has won all five meetings with Coppin State, including a 76-64 decision last season...It was the ninth triple-double in school history The last UConn player to get a triple-double was Kemba Walker on December, 3, 2010 against UMBC. He finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists... The Huskies have won 37 consecutive games at home against non-conference opponents.