No. 12 UConn rallies from a 10-point deficit to beat Hofstra 76-67

UConn beats Hofstra 76-67

STORRS, Conn. — Jerome Dyson scored 23 points and No. 12 Connecticut rallied for a 76-67 victory over Hofstra on Tuesday night in the second round of the NIT Season Tip-Off.

UConn (3-0) trailed Hofstra 54-45 with 9 minutes remaining but went ahead 59-58 on two free throws by Dyson with 5:20 to go. The teams then exchanged the lead four times before the Huskies went up for good 63-62 with 4:16 left.

Led by Charles Jenkins, the Pride (1-2) twice cut UConn’s lead to one in the final minutes, but Dyson scored nine straight points in the final 1:39 for UConn to secure the win and advance to the tournament’s semifinals next week at Madison Square Garden.

Kemba Walker had 16 points, Stanley Robinson had 15, and Gavin Edwards 10 for the Huskies.

Jenkins scored 21 of his 25 points in the second half for Hofstra, while Cornelius Vines added 18.

Hofstra suffered through a poor shooting night (24 of 73), but remained within striking distance through a 43-39 rebounding advantage, and nine 3-pointers. The Pride rallied from a 23-11 first-half deficit to cut the lead to 30-23 at halftime.

Trailing 38-31 with 15:22 remaining, however, Hofstra took over the game with help from 3-pointers by Jenkins, Cornelius Vines, and Halil Kanacevic. The Pride went on a 23-7 run, taking a 54-45 lead over the Huskies.

Robinson stopped the run with a 3-pointer and the Huskies hung on late for the win.