Memphis 53 - 72 1Connecticut
Final
  for this game

UConn routs Memphis

Mar 14, 2014 - 5:59 AM Memphis, TN (SportsNetwork.com) - Niels Giffey scored a career-high 24 points on 6-of-8 shooting from 3-point range to lead 21st-ranked Connecticut to a 72-53 win over No. 19 Memphis in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament.

DeAndre Daniels tallied 13 points, while Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright each netted 11 for the Huskies (25-7), who will face Cincinnati in the semifinals on Friday.

"We really came in with a good mind-set," said Giffey. "Like coach (Kevin Ollie) said, we had to stick to certain points that we were emphasizing."

UConn swept the regular season series against Memphis before taking care of the Tigers again on their home floor on Thursday.

Joe Jackson and Chris Crawford were the only Tigers (23-9) in double figures with 10 points apiece in the setback.

Memphis was held to a paltry 14-of-53 shooting, including 5-for-18 from beyond the arc. The Tigers did have 37 attempts from the free throw line, but only converted 20 for a 54.1 percent success rate.

UConn, meanwhile, shot a blistering 27-of-51 from the field and 10-for-20 from 3-point range.

The Tigers led 4-3 in the early going, but that would be the last time they held an advantage. UConn led 8-7 when Amida Brimah converted a three-point play to jumpstart a 10-1 run and the rout was on.

A pair of David Pellom free throws cut the deficit to eight with 3 1/2 minutes to play in the first, but the Huskies ended the half on a 9-3 run to push the spread to 41-27 at the half.

Giffey knocked down a 3 before Boatright made a layup to make it a 20-point lead, 53-33, with under 16 minutes left in the second.

Lasan Kromah's layup at the midway point of the second gave the Huskies a game-high 25-point advantage as they cruised down the stretch.

Game Notes

UConn shot 7-for-12 from beyond the arc in the first half ... The Huskies had a 15-6 edge in assists ... UConn owned a 36-35 margin on the boards ... The Huskies outscored Memphis, 30-18, in the paint.






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