GAME NOTES: Big East foes collide at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs tonight, as the St. John's Red Storm do battle with the Connecticut Huskies in Big East play. The Red Storm come into the contest on a high note, as they notched their first Big East win of the season over Cincinnati, 70-58, on Saturday. The triumph put a stop to a brief two-game slide and improved the team to 7-6 overall and an even 1-1 in conference play. SJU now heads away from home, where it has gone just 1-4 between road and neutral site affairs. As for UConn, it wrapped up a three-game road swing on a down note, dropping a 73-67 decision at Notre Dame on Saturday. The loss snapped the team's season-high five-game win streak, as it dipped to 10-3 overall. On a positive note, the Huskies now return back home, where they stand at a perfect 7-0 on the season. In terms of the all-time series, SJU owns a 32-24 edge over UConn, although the Huskies have come out on top in the last six encounters.

SJU sank 51.1 percent of its attempts from the floor and 6-of-13 from long range, as it defeated Cincinnati this past weekend. The team also won the battle on the boards, 32-26, and that includes an 11-7 edge on the offensive glass. Anthony Mason Jr. led the way with 17 points, while Justin Burrell and D.J. Kennedy each tallied 13 points. For the season, Burrell tops the roster in scoring with 12.1 ppg and he is also ripping down 7.5 rpg. Mason Jr. is next in order with 11.8 ppg and he is trailed by Eugene Lawrence, who contributes 10.6 ppg and a team-high 4.4 apg. Larry Wright adds 10.2 ppg to the rotation, while Kennedy puts forth 10.0 ppg and 7.5 rpg. As a team, SJU is averaging 68.4 ppg behind 44.2 percent shooting from the field this season.

The Huskies shot a lackluster 39.1 percent from the field and they made just 2-of-17 attempts from three-point range, as they were defeated at Notre Dame over the weekend. The team also lost the battle on the boards, 48-44, and that was a bit surprising considering UConn is outrebound its foes by 8.8 rpg on the season. Jeff Adrien notched a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds to peace the Huskies, while Jerome Dyson and A.J. Price scored 13 points apiece. For the season, Dyson leads the team in scoring with 15.7 ppg and he also has 20 steals to his credit. Adrien has been a force in the low post and he turns in 13.7 ppg and a team-leading 8.8 rpg for UConn. Price chips in with 12.9 ppg and he has been responsible for running the offense, dishing out a team-high 6.2 apg. Stanley Robinson puts forth 11.4 ppg and 6.1 rpg, and Hasheem Thabeet contributes 10.6 ppg and 8.5 rpg. Overall, the Huskies are scoring a healthy 82.2 ppg this season, and they are also holding their opponents to a mere 36.3 percent shooting from the floor.

The Huskies have been at their best at home this season and with a solid effort in the low post, they should be able to overcome a SJU team that has struggled on the road.