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Iona-Connecticut Preview

Dec 26, 2009 - 7:56 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Iona (8-4) at Connecticut (8-2), 2:00 p.m. EDT

Connecticut hasn't responded from a loss earlier this month the way it would have liked. With the No. 11 Huskies beginning Big East play next week, they are running out of time to impress coach Jim Calhoun.

Connecticut's final chance to get things in order before opening the conference schedule comes Sunday when it faces Iona at the XL Center.

The Huskies (8-2) suffered their second loss of the season Dec. 9, falling 64-61 to then-No. 4 Kentucky. Connecticut had 10 days off following that defeat and has responded with two wins, but it's had to rally in both against inferior teams, including a 71-54 victory over Maine on Tuesday.

The Huskies were tied with the Black Bears going into the second half before pulling away. In a 60-51 victory over Central Florida two days earlier, they trailed by five at the break.

"If we keep playing like this, it's not going to be a good season," freshman Alex Oriakhi said. "If we can't beat Maine by at least 30, that's not good."

Connecticut held the Black Bears to 24.2 percent shooting in the first half, but the Huskies were only 9 of 28 (32.1 percent). They bounced back to shoot 51.7 percent after halftime.

Jerome Dyson tied a career high with 27 points while Stanley Robinson had 14 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots. Connecticut had a season-high 16 blocks.

Dyson shot 9 of 18, including 4 of 11 from 3-point range. He's struggled from the floor this season at 39.4 percent, but has become more willing to shoot from outside the last two games, going 8 of 17 beyond the arc after shooting 8 of 29 in the first eight.

Connecticut opens its Big East slate Wednesday at Cincinnati and its top players could probably use the extra rest that would come with a quick start and an easy win. The Huskies' five leading scorers are all averaging more than 30 minutes per game and the top three - Dyson, Robinson and Kemba Walker - average more than 33.

"What I'm worried about right now is us coming together and playing 40 minutes of basketball," Calhoun said. "When you give a team a 20-minute game, injuries happen, some bad calls, somebody gets hurt, all of the various things that happen in a basketball game."

Calhoun's team may not be expecting a much easier time against Iona (8-4), which is riding a four-game winning streak that includes a victory over Big East foe Providence.

The Gaels, who haven't won five in a row since January 2006, are coming off an 82-60 win over Fairleigh Dickson on Wednesday.

Milan Prodanovic scored a season-high 15 points, going 5 of 5 from beyond the arc, and Alejo Rodriguez had 10 points and 11 rebounds. The Gaels led 44-29 at the half.

Scott Machado is the only Iona player to average in double figures at 11.2 points per game, but the team has scored at least 80 in three of the last four contests.

Wednesday's win improved the Gaels to 3-0 in true road games and was their first of six consecutive contests on the road.

Iona has lost seven straight against ranked opponents since beating No. 22 North Carolina in 2002.

The Huskies are 2-1 against Gaels, winning 105-54 in 2003. Iona's only victory was in 1984.