The way No. 14 Connecticut had been playing, the trip to Hawaii the week after Christmas was supposed to be win three games, accept the Big Island Invitational championship trophy and head back for the rigors of the Big East.
The Huskies had cruised to eight victories to open the season, the latest a 40-point opening-round win over Texas-Arlington in the tournament at Hilo. On Wednesday night, they ran into a problem they hadn't faced all season: playing catch up.Ohio University took command early and then made the free throws down the stretch to hand the Huskies an 85-76 semifinal loss.
The Bobcats (7-3) made 17 of 21 foul shots in the final 2:13, the crowning touch after a night of mixing up defenses that frustrated Connecticut, which trailed the whole game after a tie at 2.
"We tried to catch them down the stretch. We fouled them, but they hit the shots. They stood up to us," coach Jim Calhoun said.
In other games involving ranked teams it was: No. 4 Temple 63, FDU 51; No. 6 Kansas 73, Rhode Island 60; No. 9 UMass 94, Maryland 80; No. 11 Louisville 83, Florida 68; No. 15 Ga. Tech 71, St. John's 69; No. 17 Wisconsin 103, Grambling St. 83; No. 19 Syracuse 85, Colgate 74; and No. 20 Oklahoma St. 79, UCSB 74.