UConn Begins NCAA Tournament Run With 95-52 Rout of Vermont – NBC Connecticut

The University of Connecticut (UConn) began its NCAA Tournament run in emphatic fashion, routing the Vermont Catamounts 95-52 in the first round at XL Center in Hartford.

The Huskies’ impressive display of offensive and defensive prowess was on full display, as they overwhelmed Vermont with a barrage of shots from the perimeter. Leading the way was freshman guard Christian Vital, who poured in a game-high 25 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor, including 5-of-8 from three-point range.

Vital was joined in double figures by Jalen Adams (13 points) and Alterique Gilbert (12 points). UConn shot 51.6 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from beyond the arc.

The Huskies also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Catamounts 41-25, including a whopping 17 offensive boards. They outscored Vermont 28-4 in second chance points.

Defensively, UConn held the Catamounts to just 32.8 percent shooting from the floor and a dismal 9.5 percent from three-point range. Vermont also committed 16 turnovers, which the Huskies converted into 22 points.

It was a complete performance from UConn, who will now move on to face the Iowa Hawkeyes in the second round of the tournament on Sunday. With the way the Huskies played on Thursday, they look poised to make a deep run in the tournament.