Southern Methodist 64 - 55 1Connecticut
Final
  for this game

SMU takes out UConn

Feb 24, 2014 - 1:55 AM Storrs, CT (SportsNetwork.com) - Nic Moore and Nick Russell both scored 15 points to help visiting SMU knock off No. 21 Connecticut 64-55.

It's the second time this season the Mustangs defeated a ranked Huskies team. They posted a 74-65 win over then-No. 17 UConn on Jan. 4.

Markus Kennedy finished with 13 points and seven rebounds for the Mustangs (22-6, 11-4 AAC), who improved to 4-1 overall against ranked opponents.

UConn (21-6, 9-5) was led by Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright with 15 points apiece, but both struggled shooting the ball against an SMU defense that entered second in the nation in field-goal defense.

"You can't shoot 29 percent. It was a lot of missed shots. You just can't win like that," UConn head coach Kevin Ollie said.

Napier was 5-for-16 from the field, while Boatright made only 3-of-12 shots.

The Huskies, who never led Sunday, had a four-game winning streak snapped.

Russell hit a 3-pointer to put SMU up 48-38 midway through the second half. UConn trimmed its deficit to 54-49 on a Napier jumper with 4:36 remaining, but the Mustangs responded with a 7-0 run to grab their largest lead of the game.

Points were scarce in the early going for both teams. After the game's opening four-plus minutes featured no scoring, SMU broke through and recorded the first seven points. Two Russell free throws made it 12-5 with 10:14 left.

The Huskies tied the game at 25-25 inside the final minute, but Kennedy sank two foul shots to give SMU a halftime lead.

Game Notes

SMU has 11 conference wins for the first time since 2002-03, when it was a member of the WAC ... The Mustangs shot 52.2 percent in the second half ... UConn was held to 29.6 percent shooting for the game ... Niels Giffey scored 11 points for the Huskies.






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