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UConn hopes to bounce back vs. Rutgers

Jan 3, 2009 - 1:51 PM Rutgers (9-5) at (2) Connecticut (11-1) 7:00 p.m. EST

STORRS, Connecticut (Ticker) -- A shell-shocked Connecticut squad looks to put a disappointing defeat behind them when they host Rutgers on Saturday in a Big East contest.

After breezing through the early part of their schedule, the second-ranked Huskies were beaten at home, 74-63, by Georgetown on Monday. Connecticut (11-1, 0-1 Big East) fell behind, 18-3 at the start of the game and never recovered.

Star center Hasheem Thabeet blocked seven shots and grabbed seven rebounds but managed only four points on 2-of-4 shooting. Jerome Dyson, who averages 14.5 points per game, had the toughest night for Connecticut, totaling four points on 1-of-10 shooting and turning the ball over four times.

The Huskies feature a balanced offense, with five players averaging double figures, and surrender an average of 62.7 points per game.

Rutgers (9-5, 0-1) dropped its Big East opener, 78-72, to No. 3 Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The Scarlet Knights shot 62 percent in the first half to take a 43-39 lead into the break but slumped to 27 percent in the second half.

Mike Rosario scored 22 points in the setback and leads Rutgers in scoring at 17.8 points per game. He has scored at least 22 in each of the last three games.

The Huskies took the lone meeting between the teams last season, 79-61, behind 27 points by Jeff Adrien.