UConn pick up crucial Big East win

HARTFORD - In desperate need of a win, the Huskies played their most inspired basketball of the season Wednesday night versus No. 25 Villanova. In a back and forth battle from tip to finish, the Huskies outlasted the Wildcats in coach Jim Calhoun's historic 1,000th game to get win No. 13 by a final score of 81-76.

"Tonight was a big game for us," Josh Boone said. "We played like our lives were on the line. This is probably the hardest we've played all year."

The first half was a series of ups and downs for the Huskies, who came out of the gate hot. Rudy Gay hit a three with 17:30 remaining to put the Huskies up 9-3. From there the Huskies were in control for most of the half, leading by as many as seven at one point. Most impressively the Huskies were able to control the tempo of the game from the foul line as they scored half of their first half points from the stripe shooting 19-of-26 for 73.1 percent. At one point the Huskies didn't score from the field for over eight minutes until Gay nailed a three pointer with 2:25 remaining.

The Wildcats would not stay cold forever though and with 5:13 remaining in the first half Villanova exploded from behind the three point arc. Led by Mike Nardi, the Wildcats hit four straight three pointers to spark a 14-0 run over 2:34 giving them a 38-31 lead. The Huskies would fight back however to close the Villanova lead to 40-38 at the end of the first half.

"You have to fight for a win and compete for a win," Calhoun said. "It took us a while to adjust to them tonight and they suckered us into playing their game."

It would have been hard to write a script more dramatic than the performance that UConn and Villanova turned in during the last 20 minutes of the game. The half opened up with the Huskies regaining the lead thanks to back to back jump shots by Gay and Denham Brown. Following three free throws by Charlie Villanueva, the Huskies were up 45-42. The Wildcats would then go on an 8-0 run to regain the lead, 50-45. The two teams would exchange leads until the five minute mark when a three pointer by Rashad Anderson put the Huskies up 67-63. Villanova's Curtis Sumpter would answer with a lay up, but a Gay jumper put the Huskies up 69-65 and seemingly in control with 4:16 remaining.

The Wildcats were not done though, as back to back lay ups by Randy Foye and Allen Ray would tie the game back up at 69. With 2:52 remaining Marcus Williams hit a key three to put the Huskies up 72-69. On the ensuing possession a controversial goaltending call on Charlie Villanueva tied the game up once again. The questionable call occurred when Ray's three point shot was seemingly tipped and short of the rim. Villanueva then went up to grab it and the officials made the controversial call. After a Villanueva go ahead free throw with 1:27 remaining, the Huskies had a huge stop on defense and took possession with a 73-72 lead, though controversy would soon rear its ugly head once again.

On the next possession with 31.5 seconds remaining Villanueva put a pretty move on a Villanova defender to hit a big turnaround jump shot, thus putting the Huskies up 75-72. Following the basket Villanova coach Jay Wright was hit with a huge technical foul for allegedly grabbing an official. Apparently Wright tried to grab the ref after Villanueva ran past the Villanova bench taunting the team. Wright in an attempt to tell the official what had happened allegedly made contact with him and was hit with the technical foul.

"I heard from one of the guys on the bench that he was screaming in everyone's face. Coach tried to get that out to the ref and he [the ref] took it the wrong way," Foye said.

"It wasn't my intention [to taunt]. I didn't mean it that way, I apologize to Coach Wright for that. I had no idea that they called a T because of me until Coach Calhoun told me what had happened. I had no idea, I just went blank, I was just so happy that I made the shot," Villanueva said following the game.

Anderson calmly nailed the two technical free throws and the Huskies held on for the next 31 seconds to get the victory.

"I think this game was critical for us," Calhoun said. "We have one of the toughest schedules in the league, maybe in the country. We haven't held our own at home and tonight we did. This is a really good win."

"Villanova had been on a streak, and we ended it," Gay said. "That was exactly what we needed. Now maybe this will start a streak for us."

One of the biggest advantages for the Huskies Wednesday night in the second half was the play of Hilton Armstrong. Armstrong played intense basketball, grabbing six of his 10 rebounds in the final 20 minutes in addition to having a huge dunk and block that helped give the Huskies the emotional spark they needed down the stretch.

"Hilton was great. He really set the tone for us," Boone said. "There was a point at around the 10 minute mark where he stepped up. He carried us."

"I saw out biggies getting pushed around recently and was tired of it. I tried to step up and be a leader out there," Armstrong said. "Every team needs someone to be energetic. I try to be the hype man, and hope it will wear off on everyone else."

Anderson led all scorers with 21 points on 5-of-8 shooting, but made an impressive 9-of-10 free throw attempts in front of a sold out Civic Center crowd of 16,294. The Huskies shot 30-of-42 from the free throw line giving them 71.4 percent on the game. The Huskies will host St. John's Saturday at noon at Gampel Pavilion before heading to Syracuse Monday night in a huge Big East and national match up.

"After tonight we are at a pivotal point in the season," Boone said. "We needed this win. From here on out every game is tough. Every game is a battle."