STORRS, Conn. – Outscoring the East Texas A&M university men's basketball team, 45-32, in the second half, the No. 5/5 University of Connecticut Huskies pulled away for an 83-59 win on Friday night at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
 
The Huskies, who have won two of the last three NCAA Division I National Championships, came into the game being ranked No. 5 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Polls. UConn is 8-1 overall following the win and is now 2-0 over the Lions in the last two seasons. East Texas A&M falls to 4-4, snapping a three-game winning streak.
 
Despite the first four points of the game being scored by the Huskies, the Lions came back to tie the game at six and again at 8-8. The next nine points were scored by UConn, as the Lions went without a point for four minutes and the game was not tied again.
 
After the Huskies went up 29-15 at the 6:51 mark, the Lions went on an 8-1 run and got it back down to seven. UConn scored the final four points of the half to lead 38-27 at the break. Damian Garcia (Houston – Dobie) hit three shots from deep in the first as the Lions shot 40 percent from outside.
 
The Lions had two three-minute stretches of being held scoreless through the first nine minutes of the second half, as the Huskies went up by as much as 18 during that stretch.
 
During a stretch in which the Lions shot 0 for 7 and did not make a field goal, scoring just three points from the line during the 5:42 stretch, UConn extended its lead to 24 points. The largest scoring margin in the game was 27 points.
 
Ronnie Harrison (Forney) ended the field goal-less drought with a layup, scoring seven points in a row on three possessions. He finished the game with team-best 15 points, shooting 6 for 12 from the field and added six rebounds as well.
 
Garcia totaled 12 points and three rebounds, while Gianni Hunt (Lakewood, Calif.) scored 11 points and had team-high seven rebounds. Josh Taylor (Atlanta) also added nine points.
 
UConn shot 61.3 percent in the second half, while holding the Lions shot just 37.0 percent. Solo Ball led the Huskies with 14 points.
 

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The Lions are back at home to host Central Arkansas on Sunday at 5 p.m. It is Christmas in Commerce with all fans in attendance having the chance to take a free photo with Santa. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/tickets.