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UConn plays final tune-up before opening Big East play

Dec 26, 2008 - 11:21 AM Fairfield (8-3) at No. 2 Connecticut (10-0) 7:00 p.m. EST

STORRS, Connecticut (Ticker) -- After passing its stiffest test of the season thus far, second-ranked Connecticut has one more mismatch on the schedule Friday before it begins Big East play.

The Huskies will look to take care of in-state foe Fairfield following a dramatic overtime win over then-No. 7 Gonzaga on Saturday.

A.J. Price's 3-pointer with eight seconds left in regulation capped off an 11-point comeback and sent the game into overtime, where Jerome Dyson scored six of his 21 points as UConn emerged with an impressive 88-83 triumph.

With Hasheem Thabeet in foul trouble for much of the contest, Price led the Huskies with 24 points and 10 assists in his team's third matchup with a Top-25 team this season.

Connecticut, which avenged a loss to the Bulldogs last season, takes on No. 9 Georgetown in a high-profile conference opener for both teams Monday.

The Stags have won seven straight games following a 1-3 start to the season, with the last three coming by single digits.

Jonathan Han leads Fairfield with averages of 12.8 points and 6.3 assists, but it was a pair of big men that carried it to a 66-60 win over Drexel in its last game on December 14.

Anthony Johnson and Greg Nero each recorded double-doubles, with Johnson totaling 14 points and 16 rebounds and Nero adding 11 and 11.