Huskies stake claim for No. 1 after fending off Irish

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

02/28/2009 - Storrs, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Adrien scored a season-high 25 points, and the second-ranked Connecticut Huskies survived a scare from Notre Dame, topping the Fighting Irish, 72-65, at Gampel Pavilion.

Adrien shot 11-of-15 from the field and grabbed nine rebounds for UConn (27-2, 15-2 Big East), which stands one game ahead of second-place Louisville in the conference. Hasheem Thabeet nearly notched a triple double with 16 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocks. A.J. Price added 12 points in the winning effort.

With the win, the Huskies have assured themselves at least a bye through the first two rounds of the Big East Tournament. In the new format for the conference tourney this season, which includes all 16 teams for the first time, the top four teams in the standings advance all the way to the quarterfinals.

After No. 1 Pittsburgh fell to Providence earlier in the week, the Huskies could once again ascend to the top of the polls come Monday.

Tory Jackson led a balanced Irish (16-12, 7-9) attack with 17 points and five assists. Luke Harangody and Kyle McAlarney each had 14 points, while Ryan Ayers contributed 11 points, as Notre Dame had a brief two-game win streak snapped.

Down by two early in the second half, Ayers put Notre Dame out in front, 35-34, with a three-pointer in the early moments of the period.

Trailing 39-36, UConn went on a 11-2 burst, headlined by four points from Kemba Walker. Adrien's layup put the Huskies ahead by six just past the six- minute mark of the half.

After cutting the deficit to three, Jackson scored five straight Irish points to tie the game at 53, and McAlarney tied the game at 57 with eight minutes left after the Huskies took a four-point lead.

Neither team could get anything going offensively, as the game went without a field goal for almost 3 1/2 minutes. Price finally ended the drought, hitting a floater in the lane with 4 1/2 minutes to go for a 61-57 UConn advantage.

After the teams traded several baskets, Harangody pulled Notre Dame to within 66-65 with 57.8 seconds left on a short bank shot, and Thabeet was forced to the bench after a hard foul by Harangody at the other end.

Craig Austrie was brought in to shoot the free throws, and he drained both with 41.1 seconds left for a three-point edge. McAlarney missed a three-point attempt at the other end, and UConn corralled the rebound with 23.4 seconds on the clock.

Austrie added a free throw after a quick Irish foul, and Notre Dame missed an easy layup on the ensuing possession. Adrien made 1-of-2 from the line after a foul with 13.1 seconds to go, and the Huskies held on for the victory from there.

After missing their first six shots, the Huskies responded by making seven consecutive attempts from the field to open up a 15-8 lead in the first seven minutes.

Notre Dame made it 15-14 on Tyrone Nash's dunk halfway through the period, but UConn answered with eight straight points, as Adrien's jumper put the Huskies ahead by nine with six minutes on the clock.

The Irish fought back again, though, making five of their next eight shots, as McAlarney drained a jumper to pull Notre Dame to within 29-27 with 1 1/2 minutes to go. That margin held up through half, with UConn leading 32-30 at the break.

Game Notes

Adrien's career-high is 27, scored on February 26, 2008 at Rutgers...The Huskies shot 53.7 percent from the field, while the Irish shot only 38.9 percent...UConn swept the season series, 2-0, and leads the all-time series, 15-6...Walker finished with eight points, six rebounds and six assists for the Huskies.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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