The UConn men’s basketball team closed out the year (and decade) in style, blowing out the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), 69-47, to improve to 9-3. Senior Christian Vital paced the Huskies with 23 points and five rebounds, while sophomore Brendan Adams added 12 points on 5-7 shooting. Freshman Akok Akok did a little bit of everything, finishing with seven points, 10 rebounds, and a team-high five blocks.
UConn’s ball pressure made life difficult for NJIT. Alterique Gilbert in particular put the clamps on Zach Cooks — the Highlanders’ leading scorer and first team All-Atlantic Sun selection — with Cooks’ first and only field goal of the half coming at the 12:52 mark.