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Connecticut eyes another easy win against La Salle

Nov 21, 2008 - 11:22 AM La Salle (1-1) vs. No. 2 Connecticut (2-0) 6:00 p.m. EST

ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands (Ticker) -- Connecticut opened the season with a pair of lopsided victories.

That trend should continue on Friday when the second-ranked Huskies meet La Salle in the opening round of the Paradise Jam Tournament.

Freshman Kemba Walker scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half and Craig Austrie also had 21 as Connecticut used a huge run to pound Hartford, 99-56, on Monday.

Jerome Dyson added 18 points for the Huskies, who closed the game on a 54-12 surge without A.J. Price. The senior point guard sat out with a left ankle injury.

Price is expected to return against La Salle and hopes for a better performance than he showed in the season-opening, 81-55 rout against Western Carolina. He was ejected with 7:29 left after punching Catamounts guard Joey Parker, while battling for position.

After suffering a torn ACL in UConn's 70-69 setback to San Diego in the NCAA Tournament in March, Price should have little trouble finding his rhythm against La Salle, which is coming off a 65-61 loss to Florida State on Tuesday.

Yves Mekongo Mbala led the Explorers with 13 points and 11 rebounds against the Seminoles after registering nine points and eight boards during the season-opening win over Morgan State.