The UConn men’s basketball team and true freshman Donovan Clingan faced their first true road game of the season Wednesday night at the University of Florida.
The fifth-ranked Huskies passed the test easily, and the former Bristol Central superstar had a big night. UConn won, 75-54, over Florida in the nationally televised contest (ESPN2) and improved to 10-0.
As for Clingan, he played 19 minutes off the bench and scored 16 points to go along with eight rebounds, three blocked shots and a steal. He committed three fouls and turned the ball over once.
All of Clingan’s baskets came on dunks or layups some of the two-handed, powerful variety. Clingan’s first two baskets were dunks, as was his last one that gave the Huskies a 34-20 lead with 2:21 left in the first half. UConn led, 36-23, at the break, and Clingan had 10 points.
In the second half, Clingan turned it up on the defensive end. The first four stats he recorded were two defensive rebounds, a blocked shot and a steal. Clingan added another blocked shot later on, along with two more dunks and a layup.
For the season, Clingan is averaging 9.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 0.7 steals in 15.1 minutes per game. Clingan leads the Huskies in blocked shots (21) and his total rebounds (65) ranks his second just behind Adama Sanogo’s 69. Clingan’s 70.9 field goal percentage is the best among those players who have attempted at least 34 shots. One area Clingan is sure to put some work in on is his free throw shooting, where he is 16 for 29 (55.2%).
UConn hosts Long Island University on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Gampel Pavilion. The game will be broadcast on FS1.
Photo credit: UConn athletics.
