The University of Connecticut Huskies put on a show at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, defeating the No. 9 North Carolina Tar Heels 87-76 in the Jimmy V Classic. Led by junior guard James Bouknight’s 23 points, UConn was able to secure the win and move to 5-1 on the season.
The Huskies came out of the gates hot, shooting an impressive 53.8 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc. UConn was able to take a double-digit lead at halftime, and never looked back.
The Tar Heels were led by junior guard Caleb Love, who scored a team-high 21 points. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Huskies’ hot shooting. UConn was able to hold off a late surge by North Carolina to secure the win.
UConn was also able to get contributions from several other players, including freshman forward Akok Akok, who scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Senior guard Christian Vital added 12 points and six rebounds, while freshman guard Brendan Adams chipped in 11 points.
The win was UConn’s first victory over a ranked opponent this season, and it was a big one. The Huskies will look to build on this momentum as they continue their season.
It was a great night for UConn, and for college basketball as a whole. The Huskies were able to put on a show at Madison Square Garden and come away with a big win over a ranked opponent. It was an impressive performance by the Huskies, and one that will surely be remembered for years to come.