CINCINNATI – The No. 4 UConn men's basketball team (14-2, 4-1 BIG EAST) won its fourth-straight with a hard-fought road win, 80-75, at Xavier (7-8, 1-3 BIG EAST) on Wednesday night at the Cintas Center. Cam Spencer (Davidsonville, Md.) scored 19 to lead five Huskies in double-figures and Tristen Newton (El Paso, Texas) finished with a 16-point, 11-assist double-double.

The Huskies led by four at the half and went up as many as 14 in a strong second half, but the Musketeers rallied at every turn and had the game within a possession in the final seconds. Joining Spencer and Newton in double-figures were Alex Karaban (Southborough, Mass.) with 14, Stephon Castle (Covington, Ga.) with 12 and Hassan Diarra (Queens, N.Y.) with 11 off the bench.

UConn shared the ball incredibly well in the victory, assisting on 27 of its 31 made field goals. Newton led the way with his 11 dimes, while Castle added eight. The Huskies moved into a tie atop the BIG EAST standings with the win, joining St. John's and Seton Hall with 4-1 records.

How it Happened

The Huskies started hot from distance, sinking four of their first five from 3-point range to build a 14-6 lead at the first timeout of the opening half. Connecticut went on to build its largest lead of the half at 32-22 midway through the frame, but Xavier stormed back with an 8-0 late in the period to level the score at 35-35 and force a UConn timeout.

UConn responded after the stoppage with a 7-0 run and would take a 42-38 lead into halftime. The Musketeers came out in the second half hot from distance, making their first four 3-pointers of the half to take their first lead at 52-51 before a timeout with 15:20 to play.

Newton would go on a personal 6-0 run after the stoppage, canning a pair of 3-pointers to put the Huskies back on top by five and force a Xavier timeout. UConn would push the run to 10-0 and the lead to nine at 61-52.

The Musketeers hung around and stayed within two possessions for much of the second half, until a 9-0 sparked by five points from Diarra gave UConn its largest lead of the game at 74-60. Xavier attempted a late rally and got within three thanks to a 13-2 run in the final minutes, before Newton iced the game with a pair of free throws in the final seconds.

Inside The Numbers

• UConn shot 54.4 percent (31-57) from the floor and 45.8 percent (11-24) from 3-point range
• Conversely, the Huskies held Xavier to 35.9 percent shooting overall and 33.3 percent from distance
• Connecticut held a 7-2 edge in blocked shots, getting two apiece from Castle and Samson Johnson (Lome, Togo)
• The Huskies finished with a 36-30 edge in points in the paint

News and Notes

• UConn improves to 4-4 all-time against Xavier and 2-2 at the Cintas Center
• Connecticut moves to 10-0 this season when holding an opponent under 40 percent
• The Huskies recorded an assist on their first seven baskets and 14 of 16 in the first half, finished with 27 on 31 made baskets (87.1 percent)
• Newton's double-double was his fourth of the season
• The Huskies were out-rebounded for only the second time this season
• UConn hit the 80-point mark for the third straight game after missing it the prior three

Up Next

The Huskies return home for two-straight in Connecticut, first taking on Georgetown on Jan. 14 for a noon tip at the XL Center.