Storrs, CT (My Sportsbook) - The 12th-ranked Connecticut Huskies host the Hofstra Pride in the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament North Region finals tonight at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs. The winner of this game will advance to the semifinals of the tourney to be held at Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 25th.
The Pride was able to advance to this stage of this 16-team event with a hard fought 68-63 win over Yale last night. It was a nice rebound for Hofstra, which had the unfortunate task of facing top-ranked Kansas in its season opener. That game resulted in an expected 101-65 blowout victory by the Jayhawks last Friday.
As for the Huskies, they have the luxury of hosting the first two rounds of this event and they capitalized with a 77-63 victory over Colgate last night. The triumph stretched UConn's non-conference winning streak at Gampel Pavilion to 28 games and that includes a 75-66 season-opening victory over William & Mary on Friday. This is the Huskies' third appearance in the NIT Season Tip- Off, with them placing third in the prior two showings.
UConn and Hofstra have met only one time previously on the hardwood, with the Huskies capturing an overtime victory in the 1976 NCAA Tournament.
The Pride shot 49.1 percent from the floor and converted on 15-of-20 chances at the foul line, as it edged Yale last night. Hofstra also dominated the boards, 42-22, helping to compensate for a 1-of-9 showing from long range and 22 turnovers. Nathaniel Lester led the charge with 19 points on a near perfect 8-of-10 shooting from the floor. It was a nice bounce back for Lester, who had just six points in the opener at Kansas. Charles Jenkins added 17 points and seven assists, and Greg Washington chipped in with 10 points. Jenkins led the team with 23 points in the opener and he will have to be outstanding if Hofstra is to have any chance tonight.
UConn drained 55.2 percent of its attempts from the floor and 8-of-19 from three-point range, as it pulled away from Colgate last night. The Huskies also played a little defense, forcing 19 turnovers and recording eight blocked shots. Stanley Robinson went a perfect 8-of-8 from the floor on his way to a game-high 18 points for the Huskies. It was a big effort from Robinson, who scored 17 points in the team's opener against W&M. Kemba Walker added 16 points, six assists and five steals in a complete effort, while Gavin Edwards had 14 points on 7-of-8 field goals. Jerome Dyson, who led the team with 27 points and eight helpers in the opener, contributed 10 points and six assists last night. He however, was just 3-of-15 from the floor.
