HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Liam McNeeley scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half and UConn closed the game on a 27-6 run to defeat Villanova 66-59 on Tuesday night. UConn trailed 53-39 with 11:58 remaining after Wooga Poplar scored 11 straight Villanova points.

Liam McNeeley had promised there would be a different result when the UConn men played Villanova. He called for his team to “play angry,” play “desperate.” It’s a big check for a freshman to write, but McNeeley was willing to step into a void and provide the words,