Bad beat: UConn survives but Villanova covers with last-second half-court heave
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UConn fans got a win, but it was another story for UConn bettors.
Connecticut survived an upset bid by Villanova Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, with the top-ranked Huskies pulling out a 66-65 win.
The Huskies seemed ready to walk off the court with a 66-62 win, but Wildcats guard Mark Armstrong tossed up a half-court prayer as the final buzzer sounded.
Nothing but net. And heartbreak.
UConn was favored by 3.5 points in the Big East showdown.
That means Armstrong’s seemingly meaningless buzzer-beater allowed Villanova to cover the spread.
It didn’t take long for social media to start grumbling.
Guard Tristen Newton led the Huskies with a game-high 25 points.
For Villanova, guards TJ Bamba and Justin Moore each had 15.
UConn won its seventh straight to improve to 17-2, 7-1 in the Big East.
The Huskies, the reigning national champions, are 2-0 since becoming the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25.
With Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright in the house, Villanova (11-7, 4-3) put up a fight in front of nearly 20,000 fans at their NBA off-campus home, where three national championship banners hang in the rafters.
But Alex Karaban hit the decisive 3-pointer for UConn with 2:43 remaining and Villanova lost for the third time in its last four games.
departure of Hall of Famer Jay Wright in 2022. AP
Under second-year coach Kyle Neptune, the Wildcats are still very much a work in progress.
In Wright’s heyday, the Wildcats might trail or play a close game against a team like UConn, only to rip off eight or nine 3s and go on some game-breaking run for one more blowout win en route to a 25-plus win season.
Under coach Dan Hurley, the Huskies have left no doubt about their place in college basketball.
The Huskies have been strengthened by the return of star center Donovan Clingan, who played his second game since he missed five games with a tendon injury in his right foot.
The 7-foot-2 sophomore scored six points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Up next
UConn doesn’t play again until Jan. 28 against Xavier.
The Wildcats play Wednesday at St. John’s.
— with AP
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