COL BKB: Connecticut 88, Bryant 58

Hasheem Thabett's 16 points led five players in double figures Saturday when second-ranked Connecticut rolled to an 88-58 win over Bryant.

UConn rallied after a slow start led to 5-3 deficit in the opening 90 seconds.

The Huskies led 45-28 on the strength of a 23-8 run before halftime.

Their lead grew gradually in the second stanza when their outmanned Division II opponents were barely competitive.

Craig Austrie scored 15 with six rebounds and three assists.

Jeff Adrien and A.J. Price scored 14 points each.

Jerome Dyson had 11 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Thabett added 12 rebounds for the unbeaten Huskies (6-0), who presented Coach Jim Calhoun his 780th career victory, equaling Lute Olson for eighth place on the all-time list.

Cecil Gresham, a native of Hartford suburb Bloomfield, led Bryant with 19 points.

Ryan McLean, the only other player in double figures, added 10 points with four rebounds for the Bulldogs (1-3), who led three times early.