DAN HURLEY

UConn trailed by two points at halftime, but a 26-point advantage in the second half propelled the Huskies to a victory in the first round on Friday.

Adama Sanogo scored 10 of his 28 points in the first five minutes of the second half as fourth-seeded UConn took control and beat Rick Pitino’s Iona Gaels 87-63 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Tyler Kolek and David Joplin each scored 17 points, and No. 6 Marquette moved into the Big East championship game for the first time by holding off No. 11 UConn 70-68.

Xavier heads to Storrs, Connecticut to take on UConn in a Big East battle Wednesday on FS1. Here are the top plays!

UConn head coach Dan Hurley and associate head coach Kimani Young have tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Wednesday's game at Seton Hall.

Zach Freemantle scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Colby Jones also scored 16, helping No. 22 Xavier hand No. 2 UConn its first loss, 83-73.

What teams have surprised so far? Which players have impressed the most? Find out in our early season report card from Andy Katz and John Fanta.

It was a wild week of college basketball, including a controversial finish that showed one replay rule should be changed. Andy Katz breaks it down.

Teddy Allen scored 37 points and New Mexico State won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time almost three decades, upsetting fifth-seeded Connecticut 70-63 to become the second No. 12 seed to advance out of the first round.

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Former UConn star James Bouknight of the Charlotte Hornets was tossed from his courtside side by a game official in the second half Saturday as the No. 24 Huskies held off Xavier 72-61. Bouknight, who played two seasons for Connecticut and is in his NBA rookie season, was sitting in the front row opposite the Xavier bench when he was asked to leave. Bouknight then moved over to the UConn student section.

UConn coach Dan Hurley was reveling in the return of basketball this season — the ability to travel to a tournament his team played in the Bahamas, the loud crowds at home and away games — when just before Christmas he began feeling sick. Like many other programs, the Huskies (10-3) are now in a pause because of COVID-19, with Hurley, other staff members and nine players having tested positive or showing symptoms, so far. Since the season began Nov. 9, more than 190 men’s Division I basketball games and more than 160 women’s D-I games have been canceled or postponed due to COVID-19.

Tyler Polley scored a career-high 24 points and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:58 left in the second overtime to help No. 22 UConn beat No. 19 Auburn 115-109 in Wednesday’s first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis.

Adama Sanogo scored 20 points and No. 24 UConn opened the season with a 99-48 rout of in-state rival Central Connecticut.

– Eric Ayala scored 23 points and Maryland clamped down on defense down the stretch to snag a 63-54 victory over No. 7 UConn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night. The 10th-seeded Terrapins held UConn to 32% shooting to overcome the Huskies' strong physical game. Ayala and Darryl Morsell each made a pair of three throws to push the lead back to nine. It was the first meeting between Maryland and UConn since Maryland won in the 2002 regional final en route to its only national championship.

Posh Alexander scored 18 points to lead five players in double figures and the Red Storm came from behind to upset No. The Red Storm chipped away and Alexander tied the game at 59 with a pair of free throws. A 3-pointer by Earlington gave the Red Storm their first lead, 64-62, with just over four minutes left. BIG PICTURESt. John's: The Red Storm's defense, which had been forcing an average of 18 turnovers a game, got 18 on Monday. UP NEXTSt. John's: The Red Storm do not have another game scheduled until Jan. 27, when they visit DePaul.

And so, in what has since become a viral video, Jackson, a 2006 UConn graduate who lives in Boston, posted a tweet of himself downing a large spoonful of Black Bison hot sauce, then taking another swig from the bottle, while chanting, "U-C-O-N-N, UConn, UConn, UConn." Another fan tweeted that he believed all UConn fans should follow suit, in penance for doubting their Huskies. Numerous fans began posting videos of themselves taking shots of hot sauce. One hot sauce brand got wind of the challenge and is offering discounts to participants who buy their sauce. “I mean, I'd have to celebrate with some hot sauce," he said.

And so, in what has since become a viral video, Jackson, a 2006 UConn graduate who lives in Boston, posted a tweet of himself downing a large spoonful of Black Bison hot sauce, then taking another swig from the bottle, while chanting, "U-C-O-N-N, UConn, UConn, UConn." Another fan tweeted that he believed all UConn fans should follow suit, in penance for doubting their Huskies. Numerous fans began posting videos of themselves taking shots of hot sauce. One hot sauce brand got wind of the challenge and is offering discounts to participants who buy their sauce. “I mean, I'd have to celebrate with some hot sauce," he said.

___The Baltimore Ravens say a player has tested positive for the coronavirus. ___The Serbian soccer federation says defender Luka Milivojevic has tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of the European Championship playoff match against Scotland. ___German soccer club Hoffenheim says a sixth player has tested positive for the coronavirus. Five other Hoffenheim players and two staff members have tested positive for the virus in the last week. Two more Hoffenheim players were withdrawn from their national teams as a precaution despite testing negative.