UConn Men’s Basketball: Huskies run past the BU Terriers, 85-66

This was a rough one to start, but the UConn Huskies ultimately took care of business as they handily defeated Boston University 85-66 at the XL Center.

Christian Vital led the way for the Huskies, who have had three different leading scorers in their first three games. Vital finished with a career-high 30 points on 9-15 shooting with five rebounds to boot. Jalen Adams was second on the team with 12 points while Terry Larrier and Antwoine Anderson tied for third with 11 each.

Larrier needs to be a little bit more assertive, but in a game like this, I suppose it’s best to try and get as many people involved as possible. Anderson has been a great veteran presence for this team, averaging 11 points through the first three games.

BU jumped out to an early lead as UConn waited until the 5:32 mark of the first half to hit its first field goal. The Huskies regrouped midway through the opening frame to take a 39-31 lead into the break.

The home team ran away with it from there, starting the second half with a 15-5 run and never looking back. Overall, UConn dominated the rebounding battle, 52-32, with 16 offensive boards leading to 17 second-chance points. One thing the Huskies need to improve on, besides the bad starts, is free-throw shooting. They finished 13-of-20 (65 percent) on the evening from the charity stripe.

UConn will be in action next at the PK80 Invitational Tournament in Portland, Oregon with a matchup against the University of Oregon in what will be the first big test of the season for Kevin Ollie’s squad. The good news is UConn goes into this game 3-0 and, even with some clear flaws, has shown plenty to be optimistic about.

Postgame Video: Kevin Ollie, Christian Vital, and Terry Larrier

Grid View

• UConn head coach Kevin Ollie waits for Alterique Gilbert so he show some love before the BU game. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Alterique Gilbert (3) drives to the basket. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Jalen Adams (4) tries to avoid a Boston University defender as he goes to the basket. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Alterique Gilbert (3) attempts a free throw after being fouled. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Alterique Gilbert (3) splits two Boston University defenders. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Alterique Gilbert (3) tries to go around a Boston University defender as he goes for a layup. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn head coach Kevin Ollie yells instructions to his defense. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Alterique Gilbert (3) heads to the basket. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Terry Larrier (22) is tied up by a Boston University defender. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Jalen Adams (4) guards BU's Cedric Hankerson (21). Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Jalen Adams (4) puts up a three-pointer. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Antwoine Anderson (0) looks for an open teammate. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Antwoine Anderson (0) drives past a BU defender. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Jalen Adams (4) puts up a shot over a Boston University defender. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Christian Vital (1) hoists a three-point attempt. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn associate head coach Raphael Chillious yells out instructions to the defense. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn assistant coach Dwayne Killings & Raphael Chillious watch play on the defensive end. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Christian Vital (1) stays focused while on defense. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Terry Larrier (22) puts up a shot in the first half. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Terry Larrier (22) dishes a pass to Antwoine Anderson (0). Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Antwoine Anderson (0) draws the charge on a Boston University player. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's David Onuorah (34) battles for a rebound with two Boston University defenders. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn head coach Kevin Ollie points out something on the defensive end of the floor. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Christian Vital (1) goes in for a layup. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Terry Larrier (22) goes strong to the basket. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Terry Larrier (22) goes up for a shot over a Boston University defender. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Terry Larrier (22) puts up a three-pointer. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Christian Vital (1) drives to the basket for a layup. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Christian Vital (1) attempts to complete the three-point play. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Jalen Adams (4) puts up a shot from the outside. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Christian Vital (1) puts up a three-pointer over a Boston University defender. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Terry Larrier (22) starts his fall to the ground after being tripped. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Antwoine Anderson (0) drives past a Boston University defender. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Josh Carlton (25) blocks a Boston University shot. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Christian Vital (1) drives to the basket. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Christian Vital (1) goes up for a layup. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Christian Vital (1) uses his left hand to shoot a layup between two Boston University defenders. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Antwoine Anderson (0) puts up a three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Tyler Polley (12) puts up a shot in front of a Boston University defender. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Alterique Gilbert (3) attempts a three-pointer. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• BU's Cedric Hankerson (21) tries to steal the ball from UConn's Alterique Gilbert (3). Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Terry Larrier (22) puts up a shot over BU's Walter Whyte (5). Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Tyler Polley (12) puts up a shot over two Boston University defenders. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Christian Vital (1) attempts a layup against BU's Cedric Hankerson (21). Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Josh Carlton (25) puts back in a rebound between two Boston University defenders. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Josh Carlton (25) puts up a one-handed push shot. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Kwintin Williams (11) battles for a rebound. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Christian Vital (1) puts up a shot over a stretched out Boston University defender. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Antwoine Anderson (0) drives strong to the basket. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Antwoine Anderson (0) floats through the air as he goes to the basket. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Jalen Adams (4) gets some air as he goes in for a reverse layup. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn head coach Kevin Ollie looks on to the action. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Antwoine Anderson (0) attempts a free throw. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Antwoine Anderson (0) attempts a three-pointer in front of his bench over an oncoming Boston University defender. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Alterique Gilbert (3) puts up a shot. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Christian Vital (1) puts up a layup but ended being called for a charge after bumping into BU's Cedric Hankerson (21). Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Christian Vital (1) puts up a layup but ended being called for a charge after bumping into BU's Cedric Hankerson (21). Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Antwoine Anderson (0) puts up a shot over a Boston University defender. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Mamadou Diarra (21) slams it home. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Mamadou Diarra (21) with the slam dunk. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Christian Vital (1) loses control of the ball between two Boston University defenders. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Christian Vital (1) puts up a three-pointer late in the game. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Michael Noyes (31) attempts a shot over a Boston University defender. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
• UConn's Michael Noyes (31) brings the ball up the court at the end of the game. Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog