Log In


Reset Password
  • MENU
    Sports
    Thursday, April 18, 2024

    Newton leads UConn men past Oregon in PKI opener

    Connecticut guard Tristen Newton, left, shoots against Oregon forward Quincy Guerrier during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Phil Knight Invitational tournament in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
    Connecticut guard Hassan Diarra, right, shoots over Oregon guard Will Richardson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Phil Knight Invitational tournament in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

    Portland, Ore. — Tristen Newton scored 23 points, leading No. 20 UConn to an 83-59 win over Oregon on Thursday night at the Phil Knight Invitational.

    Jordan Hawkins scored 18 points, Adama Sanogo added 12 and Joey Calcaterra came off the bench to score 11 for the unbeaten Huskies (6-0).

    "This is what I came here for," Newton said. "Big games, big moments."

    Kel'el Ware led the Ducks (2-3) with 18 points and nine rebounds off the bench. N'faly Dante contributed 15 points.

    Oregon took an 8-5 lead in the opening minutes, but it was all Huskies after that. Newton scored 21 points in the first half on 5-for-6 shooting from 3-point range as UConn to a 39-28 lead at the break.

    The Ducks were unable to fight their way back into the game in the second half and UConn's lead ballooned to as many as 29 points.

    "Just disappointed with the way we got out tonight and guarded," Oregon head coach Dana Altman said. "They got a lot of energy from all those threes they were hitting."

    UConn shot 47.6% from the field (30 for 63) and 45.9% (17 for 37) from 3-point range. Newton, Hawkins, Sanogo and Calcaterra accounted for 15 of UConn's 17 3-pointers. Alex Karaban added two more.

    "We're a very good 3-point shooting team," UConn head coach Dan Hurley said. "Unlike our past teams, it's a team that can go on runs because we've got multiple guys that can hurt you from the 3-point line.

    Oregon struggled to find its rhythm, turning the ball over 17 times and shooting 33.3% (5 for 15) from beyond the arc.

    Big picture

    UConn: The Huskies handled business against an unranked Oregon team to remain undefeated.

    Oregon: The Ducks were overmatched on virtually every level, unable to compete with UConn's offensive firepower.

    Up next

    UConn: The Huskies will play No. 18 Alabama in the PKI semifinal game on Friday.

    Oregon: The Ducks will play No. 12 Michigan State in a consolation game on Friday.

    Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.