SEATTLE — Unlike last season, UConn won't be perfect heading into Big East play.
What the Huskies have accomplished outside of conference play this season might be more impressive.
Donovan Clingan scored 21 points, Cam Spencer had 15 and No. 5 UConn ran away again in the second half, defeating No. 10 Gonzaga 76-63 on Friday night.
The final non-conference game of the regular season for the reigning national champions was another example of why the Huskies (10-1) were able to repeat, defeating the Bulldogs in similar fashion to last season's Elite Eight.
UConn will head into the Big East with wins over North Carolina, Indiana, Texas and Gonzaga.
“We played against the best teams in the country. I feel like it gave us some good momentum playing against these teams and now playing in the best league in the country,” Clingan said.
Clingan controlled the middle. Spencer hit some key 3-pointers in UConn's big first half, and the Huskies built an 18-point lead in the second half, withstanding every run from the Zags.
Clingan hit 8 of 11 shots and grabbed eight rebounds. Alex Karaban added 11 points for UConn and Tristen Newton and Hassan Diarra each finished with nine.
“The difference between last year's team and this year's team is that defensive intensity, that identity of being able to win a game with stops,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “We shot the cover off the ball in the first half and then we didn’t make threes in the second half. So we won it with defense.”
Anton Watson led Gonzaga (8-3) with 20 points. Ryan Nembhard added 15, but the rest of Gonzaga's supporting cast struggled. Leading scorer Graham Ike finished with five points after averaging 14.2 points in the first 10 games. Braden Huff, the key player off the bench, averaged 11.7 points and managed just one free throw.
Gonzaga was 2 of 12 on 3-point shots.
“They felt like they were physically competitive,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “We just need to be able to excel in games like this and get good results and you need top performances from your best guys.”
The Huskies beat Gonzaga 82-54 in the regional final in Las Vegas in March en route to the championship and looked just as impressive this time around. UConn shot 63% in the first half and led by 11 points at the break. Then he outscored Gonzaga 11-4 early in the second half to take a 56-38 lead.
Two free throws from Nolan Hickman put Gonzaga within 68-58 with 4:04 left, but a dunk from Clingan and a layup after a turnover from Diarra gave the Huskies a 72-58 lead with 3:26 left and sent Gonzaga fans in the narrow exits.
Gonzaga lost for the second time in three games – both in Seattle and both against teams nicknamed the Huskies. Gonzaga lost 78-73 at Washington last Saturday.
BIG PICTURE
UConn: The Huskies finished a season with three of their last four games against teams ranked in the top 10 of the AP Top 25. UConn lost at Kansas, beat North Carolina and topped the Zags.
Gonzaga: The Bulldogs missed their last chance for a big win on the road from their home court until at least February. Gonzaga lost in Washington and still has road games at Kentucky and Saint Mary's in February and March, but so far its record lacks the big top-25 nonconference win the Zags are known for.
NEXT
UConn: The Huskies open Big East play Wednesday night at Seton Hall.
Gonzaga: The Bulldogs host Jackson State on Wednesday night.
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