CHAMP CENTRAL
HARTFORD, Conn. - Rodney Purvis led UConn with a career-high 30 points as the Huskies survived a test from USF, to win 77-66 in the first round of the 2017 Frontier Communications American Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament.
UConn (15-16) was up 15 after a basket by Amida Brimah to begin the second half but USF (7-23) battled back to make it a two-point game with 2:48 left. From there, UConn closed the game on a 9-0 run to move to the quarterfinals.
Purvis was 9-for-17 from the field and 9-for-10 from the foul line, a place where UConn dominated, making 27 foul shots to just 11 for USF. Brimah finished with 13 points and Christian Vital added 11.
Geno Thorpe led the Bulls with 23 points going 4-for-6 from the three-point line but fouled out with 2:04 left, all but ending the charge for USF. The Bulls did not have a field goal after Thorpe fouled out and only made one of their final 11 field goal attempts.
UConn moves on to the quarterfinals to face Houston on Friday with tip-off scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on ESPNU.