No. 17/17 UConn downed an Elite Eight team from a year ago in Puerto Rico, while Temple battled with No. 4/3 Duke in Brooklyn in Friday’s two contests in The American.
 
UConn faced off with Dayton in the semifinals of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, winning 75-64 to set up a showdown with West Virginia in the event’s championship game Sunday. G Ryan Boatright had a game-high 20 points to go along with five rebounds, four assists and three steals. G Rodney Purvis added 19 points for the Huskies, who improved to 3-0.
 
Temple fell 74-54 to Duke as part of the Northwestern Mutual Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. G Will Cummings had a game-high 18 points for the Owls, who fell to 2-1. Temple will face UNLV Saturday night in Brooklyn in the schools’ first meeting since the John Chaney-Jerry Tarkanian era of the late 1980s.
 
Three other teams in The American will be in action Saturday, beginning when No. 22/23 SMU hosts Eastern Washington at Moody Coliseum. The Mustangs will look to rebound from a 74-68 defeat at the hands of Indiana on Thursday night. G Ben Moore has led SMU with 16.3 ppg and 8.0 rpg through three games.
 
Houston will take to the court for the first time since opening night as the Cougars host Morgan State. F Devonta Pollard led the way for Houston with 19 points in the season-opening 77-74 win at Murray State on Nov. 14.
 
Tulane looks for its second consecutive victory when the Green Wave hosts Southern University-New Orleans. The 1-1 Green Wave was last in action Thursday, defeating Mississippi Valley State 100-61 at Devlin Fieldhouse. G Jay Hook had 18 points and nine rebounds in Thursday’s win.