Lobos down Huskies to win Paradise Jam
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hugh Greenwood scored 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds and drained a go-ahead 3-pointer down the stretch, as New Mexico defeated No. 21 Connecticut, 66-60, to capture the Paradise Jam championship at the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center.
An 11-0 run turned UConn's nine-point deficit into a two-point lead with just over two minutes remaining, but Greenwood started New Mexico's 8-0 counter with a 3-pointer and the Lobos (4-0) made enough free throws in the closing seconds to seal the win.
Kendall Williams scored a team-high 15 points, while Tony Snell and Alex Kirk chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively, for New Mexico, which made all 21 of its free throws attempts to take the early tournament crown.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Huskies (4-1) were led by Shabazz Napier's 23 points.
Ryan Boatright netted 12 points, including a 3-pointer and three free throws during the Huskies' late run that gave them their first -- and only -- lead of the second half, 55-53, with 2:24 remaining.
Greenwood answered with a 3-pointer coming off a screen at the top of the key, and after Napier's deep try rattled out, Snell found Chad Adams for a bucket inside and a 58-55 advantage. Adams then took a charge on Tyler Olander, and Greenwood's strong take on the right side pushed the lead to five.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}DeAndre Daniels missed from long range for UConn, and Snell, who made the game-winning 3-pointer to get by George Mason in the semis, started a string of six straight makes at the foul line in the final 38.7 seconds for the victors.
The Lobos scored 13 points in the final 3:16 of the first half, with Snell's late corner 3-pointer providing a 30-27 advantage at the break.
They continued their hot shooting coming out of the locker room, and Williams' deep triple off two offensive rebounds pushed the margin to 39-29 less than four minutes in.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Napier, who scored 23 points after the 3:26 mark of the second half in UConn's semifinal double-overtime win over Quinnipiac, didn't wait that long to begin the Huskies' comeback, as he ripped off a personal eight-point run, then nailed a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 41-40 with 12 1/2 minutes to play.
Williams bookended a 10-2 run with a pair from long range for a nine-point cushion that was quickly erased.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Lobos' bench outscored UConn's reserves, 18-4 ... The Huskies won the 2008 Paradise Jam title ... The only other meeting between these programs came in the second round of the 1999 NCAA Tournament, with UConn winning 78-56.