HARTFORD, Conn. - Nationally-23^rd-ranked UConn (4-0) built a 15-point halftime lead and defeated visiting Binghamton men's basketball (1-3) 87-63 Saturday afternoon at the XL Center. The game was a coaching matchup between former Seton Hall teammates Levell Sanders and Dan Hurley.

Playing its third road game in seven days, Binghamton was up against a formidable Huskies team that was picked to finish second in the BIG EAST and has been among the AP Top 25 since preseason. In a double-digit hole at the half, however, the Bearcats nearly kept pace in the second half with 47 percent shooting and 41 points on the board.

"We played hard and didn't quit," head coach Levell Sanders said. "This was a learning experience and now our guys understand what it takes to compete against a team in the Top 25. We are happy to come out here and play the way we did."

The Bearcats led 7-4 early and UConn didn't take the lead until more than seven minutes had gone by. Binghamton hit 5-of-10 to end the half and BU's starting unit outscored its counterparts in the first half. The Huskies' bench, however, accounted for 20 points and a 37-22 lead at intermission.  

In the second half, BU kept pace, thanks in part to junior guard Tyler Bertram, who tallied 10 of his team-high 15 points. Bertram, coming off a 29-point game at Columbia on Wednesday, hit 5-of-10 from the floor and 3-of-6 from 3-point range for the game.

Junior center Ogheneyole Akuwovo chipped in 12 points and five rebounds and sophomore point guard John McGriff added eight points and a season-high five assists.

Binghamton is off for the Thanksgiving break before hosting Hartwick on Nov. 28 at the Events Center. That home game will briefly break up a string of five-of-six away from home to start the 2021-22 season.