Huskies Overcome Hurtle And Top Boilermakers
Just one day after allegations of NCAA recruiting violations, the UConn Huskies survived a lackluster first half to beat the Purdue Boilermakers 72-60.
The Huskies breezed through the first two games of the tournament winning by an average of 41 points against Texas A&M and Chattanooga. But it would not be that easy against Purdue. The Boilermakers battled back from an early 11-point deficit in the first half to head to the locker room down only 5 at intermission.
That’s when Connecticut Center Hasheem Thabeet took over. It was Thabeet’s 18th double-double of the season that carried the Huskies into the Elite Eight.
“Hasheem just took the game over,” UConn coach Jim Calhoun said. “Purdue, quite frankly, ran into one of the best players in America in Hasheem Thabeet.”
UConn will take on Missouri on Saturday for a chance to reach the Final Four.
Posted on March 27, 2009 in ourBasketballcategory.