Newark, N.J. – Turnover trouble contributed to UConn's demise on Saturday, as the Huskies threw away any chance to upset No. 11 Florida State at the Prudential Center.

They had 11 turnovers by halftime and finished with 19, one shy of tying their season high.

"The turnovers really hurt us," UConn coach Dan Hurley said after the 79-71 loss.

It's been a frustrating theme for the Huskies this season, especially in losses when they've averaged a brutal 17.7.

They committed 15 in a loss to Iowa and 19 in a defeat against Arizona.

Fed up with his team committing too many turnovers, Hurley recently vowed to have a quick hook for frequent offenders.

Entering Saturday's game, the backcourt trio of junior Christian Vital (28), senior Jalen Adams (22) and redshirt sophomore Alterique Gilbert (17) led the Huskies in overall turnovers. They averaged 13.4 per game as team.

If the Huskies are to exceed expectations this season, they can't be as careless and reckless with the basketball, Hurley said.

"There's a message that you have to send that way that you hope the players just pick up on and just understand that it hurts our team because we're losing possessions and a chance to get shots," Hurley said last week. "Then you look like a bad player when you turn the ball over. Really good players don't turn the ball over, especially guards. I want my guards to attack, be aggressive, not look over their shoulder, believe that they have our full confidence in them.

"But you've got to be responsible."

The Huskies have yet to learn from their mistakes.

It was no surprise that they were turnover-prone against the long and athletic Seminoles, who force an average of 17.5 per game.

The worst offenders were Gilbert (five) and Adams (four).

Rough night for Big-Game Eric

UConn senior forward Eric Cobb has an early-season habit of playing his best in big games. He averaged 13.7 points and 6.7 rebounds against Syracuse, Iowa and Arizona but just 2.7 points and 2.3 rebounds against other lesser opponents.

Hurley referred to Cobb in practice the other day as "Big-Game Eric."

"We'll be seeing you, big fella, on Saturday," Hurley said to Cobb.

That trend didn't continue against Florida State.

Cobb finished with just three points and four rebounds in almost 14 minutes.

While Cobb has been an offensive asset, he's had trouble on the defensive end and defensive glass this season.

News and notes

• Former UConn standouts Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lamb, now teammates for Charlotte's NBA team, sat court-side. They visited with the Huskies after the game. "They liked the way we compete and play hard," Adams said. ... UConn's reserves were outscored 40-23. Reserve Kassoum Yakwe had season-high six rebounds off the bench to go with four points and two blocks. ... UConn has used the same starting five — Adams, Vital, Gilbert, Tyler Polley and Josh Carlton — for all 10 games. The injury-plagued Huskies had 20 different starting lineups last season. ... Phil Cofer, FSU's top returning scorer, sat on the bench but didn't play. He returned to practice last week after missing the first eight games with a foot injury.

g.keefe@theday.com