UCF upsets No. 4 UConn, snaps 16-game win streak
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UCF halted No. 4 Connecticut's leading, 16-game win streak with a 68-63 comeback victory in the semifinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Marcus Jordan and Keith Clanton both poured in 20 points for UCF (4-1), which advanced to play the winner of Florida State/Harvard in Saturday's title game.
The Knights outscored Connecticut 39-25 over the final 20 minutes of play to dispatch the defending national champions.
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Jeremy Lamb scored 15 points, while Alex Oriakhi added 14 points and Andre Drummond finished with 13 for the Huskies (5-1), who suffered their first loss since March 5.
The Knights, who had never before taken down a fourth-ranked team, trailed by as many as 17 points early in the second half.
They rallied, though, as Jordan's three-pointer capped a 17-2 run and cut the deficit to 52-50 with just under 10 minutes remaining.
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Lamb answered immediately with a three-pointer, triggering a frenzied back- and-forth spurt.
With 3:11 remaining, Jordan -- who scored 17 second-half points -- grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled on the put-back attempt. He sank both free throws, giving the Knights a 58-57 lead.
Isaiah Sykes added to the advantage with back-to-back layups before Drummond scored to make it 62-59 with just over a minute remaining.
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The Knights closed the game from the charity stripe, as Jordan hit 4-of-4 free throws and Tristan Spurlock sank a pair to seal the improbable victory.
UCF, which defeated College of Charleston in Thursday's opener, held an early 8-7 lead. The Huskies, though, reeled off a 10-2 run to establish control midway through the opening half.
Oriakhi provided a spark over the first 20 minutes of play, scoring nine points on 3-of-5 shooting to go with four boards and a pair of blocks. Lamb added eight points over that span and nailed a step-back jumper to give UConn a 38-29 lead at intermission.
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Game Notes
Jordan is the son of NBA legend Michael Jordan...Clanton hit a career-high four three-pointers...The Huskies' last loss came on March 5 against Notre Dame...This was the first game between UCF and Connecticut since December 20, 2009. The Huskies won that contest 60-51.