The UConn men’s basketball team opened its season in style before a crowd of 8,319 at Gampel Pavilion, racing to a 79-52 win over Stony Brook on the strength of a 12-0 run to start the second half.
Leading 39-31 at halftime, the Huskies came out strong at the start of the second. Kemba Walker and Alex Oriakhi led the charge with five and four points respectively in the first six minutes.
Midway through the second half, the game was no longer in doubt, with UConn shutting down the Stony Brook offense while watching their lead grow to over 20 points. The key stat for the Huskies, holding Stony Brook to only 15 percent shooting in the second half.
“We’re better than we were during the first two exhibition games because tonight was the first time we had resistance,” Calhoun said. “And the way we reacted to that was pretty good defense.”
It was an encouraging performance by a young team that had yet to play a full-fledged Division I opponent. Most encouraging of all, the Huskies out-rebounded Stony Brook 59-33, with Oriakhi leading the way with 18 rebounds, a career high, to go along with his 11 points.
“I thought Alex stepped up, big time, on the glass and owned it,” Calhoun said of Oriakhi’s performance.
“I don’t see why I couldn’t get 18 rebounds a game. If you make up your mind to do it, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t,” Oriakhi said.
Freshman Jeremy Lamb demonstrated that the talent and versatility he showed against Bridgeport was not a fluke, making an impact against Stony Brook in all facets of the game. In 24 minutes, Lamb scored 11 points, grabbed five rebounds and recorded two assists, two steals and two blocks, including one that he sent flying several rows into the student section.
Much like in the preseason exhibitions, coach Jim Calhoun made full use of his rotation with 10 players recording nine minutes or more. Calhoun’s starting lineup consisted of Walker and Oriakhi, along with freshmen, Lamb, Tyler Olander and Niels Giffey.
The lineup did not appear to be indicative of whom Calhoun plans to use most often. But, as Olander and Giffey only wound up seeing 10 and 12 minutes of action respectively, less than Donnell Beverly, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, Shabazz Napier and Roscoe Smith, who each came off the bench.
After the game, Calhoun said that it was a good win, but that the offense needed to be better going forward. That being the case, getting the first win of the season was a step in the right direction.
“I usually use the same line on my wife every year, I know we’ll win at least one game,” Calhoun said. “And tonight we won that one game, obviously.”
The Huskies next game will be against Vermont at the XL Center in Hartford. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.