Here’s your post-game breakdown of UConn’s 66-53 season-opening victory over Bryant University:

-- Coach Kevin Ollie’s reaction: “We took on a great challenge today and we passed the first one.”

-- After trailing by nine after the first possession of the second half, UConn out-scored Bryant, 38-16, the rest of the way.

 -- UConn did everything better in the second half.

In the final 20 minutes, the Huskies shot 63.6 percent (14-for-22) from the field, controlled the boards (19-9) and played smothering defense, limiting the Bulldogs to 26.9 percent (7-for-26).

“We identified what we needed to fix at half and we came with more effort, especially on the boards,” sophomore Kentan Facey said.

 -- Senior Ryan Boatright rescued the Huskies, scoring 16 of his game-high 24 points after intermission. He finished with eight rebounds, five assists, four steals and a block in 37 minutes.

“Boatright was great,” Ollie said. “He filled up the stat sheet.”

 -- At halftime, Boatright was upset at himself for playing sub-par defense. He was a pest in the second half, turning two steals into breakaway dunks.

“I take pride in my defense and I was getting beat way too much off the dribble in the first half,” Boatright said. “Being a veteran and leader on this team, I know I have to correct those things myself.”

 -- Ollie said that he wants Facey, a 6-foot-9 forward, to be a “ball hunter.” Facey answered the call on Friday, grabbing a career high 11 rebounds. He averaged just 1.8 rebounds last season in limited action.

“His energy was great,” Ollie said. “He went after every rebound.”

 -- Bryant coach Tim O’Shea on UConn: They’re an elite team with some elite athletes.”

 -- Sophomore center Amida Brimah was a force on defense, blocking five shots and altering several others. He discouraged the Bulldogs from approaching the basket and even raced out to swat away a 3-point attempt.

“The big fella was an intimidating presence in there for our guys,” O’Shea said. “We just don’t see that. … That’s probably why he’s going to be a first round pick at some point.”

Ollie called Brimah’s impact, “big time.” But he was a bit upset that Brimah fell to the floor after a reverse dunk in the second half.

“He got a dunk and fell on the floor again,” Ollie said. “So I kind of yelled at him a little bit.”

-- Guard Sam Cassell Jr. started in place of Rodney Purvis, who served a one game suspension for violating an NCAA rule by participating in two summer basketball league. Junior Omar Calhoun (injured knee) also sat out.

Cassell started slow, going 1-for-6, before making his last two shots – both 3-pointers late in the second half that helped put the game. He had 10 points, three assists and three rebounds.

 -- Forward Daniel Hamilton made some freshman mistakes, including throwing away an ill-advised pass intended for Amida Brimah on the break. He contributed nine points and seven rebounds.

 -- Ollie praised sophomore Terrence Samuel for his defense on Bryant’s Dyami Starks, who finished with 18 but only had seven in the second half.

 -- The Huskies basically stuck with a six man rotation, with Phil Nolan and Rakim Lubin seeing spot duty with seven and five minutes, respectively.

 -- UConn received its national championship rings during a pre-game ceremony. Carmen Velasquez, Shabazz Napier’s mother, picked up her son’s ring.

 -- The Huskies improved to 26-0 in season openers at Gampel Pavilion.

 -- Up next: UConn will play in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off next week, opening up against College of Charleston on Thursday. They’ll also have a game on Friday and Sunday before returning home.