Top-seeded UConn men’s basketball blows through San Diego State 82-52 to reach Elite Eight

BOSTON (AP) — The rematch was one other mismatch for UConn.

Stephon Fort had 16 factors and 11 rebounds for the top-seeded Huskies and the defending NCAA champions superior to the Elite Eight with one other double-digit victory, beating San Diego State 82-52 on Thursday night time in a rematch of final yr’s title recreation.

Cam Spencer scored 18 factors and Tristen Newton added 17 factors and 7 rebounds for the Huskies (34-3), who will play the winner of the opposite East Area semifinal between No. 2 Iowa State and No. 3 Illinois for a spot within the Remaining 4 in Glendale, Arizona.

A yr after cruising to their fifth nationwide championship — profitable their six NCAA Event video games by a median of virtually 20 factors — the Huskies adopted up blowouts final weekend with their ninth straight double-digit March Insanity victory.

They’ve gained their video games on this event by 39, 17 and 30 factors.

“We suck at profitable shut video games,” UConn coach Dan Hurley mentioned. “You’ve bought to go along with the choice.”

Backed by a digital house crowd at TD Backyard — Boston is about 90 miles from UConn’s Storrs, Connecticut, campus — the Huskies made it a double-digit lead early within the second half, 20 with about seven minutes left and 30 within the remaining minutes, after the groups despatched of their benches. Hurley’s son Andrew even bought into the sport with 1:44 left, drawing a celebratory cheer.

“We tried to make it like Storrs North,” Fort mentioned. “They confirmed up for us.”

Seven-footer Donovan Clingan, who performed simply 23 minutes after stepping into foul bother, had eight factors and eight rebounds.

Jaedon LeDee scored 15 of his 18 factors within the first half for fifth-seeded San Diego State, which adopted up the one Remaining 4 look at school historical past with one other Candy 16 run.

However for the second straight yr, the Aztecs (26-11) bumped into UConn, which is now three victories away from turning into the primary crew to repeat as NCAA champions since Florida in 2006 and ’07.

UConn took its first 10-point lead earlier than the midpoint of a primary half wherein each groups went chilly about 10 minutes in. After opening a 27-16 lead with 11 minutes left, UConn shot 6 for 28 to complete the half — and nonetheless took a nine-point lead into the break.

The Huskies went up by double digits for good within the opening minutes of the second half when Newton — because of an offensive rebound and help from Clingan — hit a 3-pointer to make it 45-33. Up 17 with eight minutes left, UConn scored the following 9 factors to tug away.

UConn gained final yr’s championship recreation 76-59 and likewise beat the Aztecs within the 2011 Candy 16, with Kawhi Leonard’s San Diego State crew falling to Kemba Walker’s Huskies, who went on to win the college’s third nationwide championship.

Final yr, UConn made it 5, pulling away after main by 5 factors with 5 minutes left to beat San Diego State 76-59.