The UConn Huskies outlasted a tough Seton Hall team Monday evening in New Jersey as they got out to a fast start before early foul trouble flustered the Huskies and their offense sputtered. Seton Hall's transition game would keep the Pirates close, but in the end UConn's relentless inside attack and halfcourt defense would be the difference as Connecticut pulled out a 77-68 road victory, giving the 11-3 Huskies a 3-1 conference record heading into Saturday's match-up with Pittsburgh at Gampel Pavilion.

The Huskies got off to a fast start pounding the ball into the paint and getting out in transition for easy baskets. It was all going right for the Huskies, who looked unstoppable as they smothered Seton Hall on defense, jumping out to a 12-0 lead. UConn held Seton Hall to 0-11 shooting over the the game's first four and a half minutes, blocking shots and dominating in the paint on both ends of the floor.

With a 30-15 lead, it looked like the Huskies would run the Pirates out of the gym, but Seton Hall caught the Huskies sleeping as they got their running game going and beat UConn down court for easy transition baskets time and time again. As foul trouble crept up on the Huskies, Seton Hall found themselves right back in the game.

First it was Connecticut's starting point guard Marcus Williams. Williams would go to the bench midway through the half, leaving the team's point guard responsibilities in the hands of Antonio Kellogg, who sprained an ankle yesterday in practice, and 5-foot-8 walk on Sami Ameziane. Then it was Charlie Villanueva with 2 fouls. Off to a fast start with 6 points and 6 rebounds, Villanueva would have to watch his team's lead disappear helplessly from the bench, after playing just 8 first half minutes. Hilton Armstrong and Josh Boone would both also pick up their second personal fouls in the first half.

The Pirates kept the game close, going on an 18-4 run over a four and a half minute span to cut UConn's lead to 34-31, as the Huskies got away from the inside game and couldn't get their offense going.

Time and time again the Huskies got beat down court for easy transition baskets as Seton Hall managed to cut UConn's lead to just one at 38-37 going into the half.

Despite giving up easy transition baskets, UConn blocked 9 first half shots and held Seton Hall to 38% shooting as the Huskies shot an efficient 55% from the floor.

Josh Boone scored 10 points and pulled down 6 rebounds for the Huskies. Charlie Villanueva, in limited minutes, scored 6 points and pulled down 6 rebounds and Rudy Gay scored 8 points in the half.

Foul trouble would continue to plague the Huskies as UConn began the second half with four players with 2 personal fouls each. Williams would pick up his third foul, going to the bench early in the second half and the Pirates continued where they left off in the first half.

The Huskies offense would continue to sputter as they couldn't get their perimeter game going and failed to pound the ball inside. Josh Boone and Hilton Armstrong would each pick up their third fouls as Seton Hall continued a strong transition attack. The Pirates took took a 50-48 lead at the 12:20 mark of the second half, holding UConn to just 12 second half points before the Huskies began to pick up the pace and use their inside strength to score high percentage baskets.

After sitting much of the second half, Williams would finally get back into the game midway through the second half but would pick up his fourth foul 20 feet from the basket on a hand check just 2 minutes later at the 10:34 mark, leaving his Huskies once again in an offensive funk without him. Williams would play a total of just 10 minutes.

Rudy Gay kept pace for UConn as he gave the Huskies the lead back at the 9:43 mark with a rainbow jumper from 18 feet, scoring his 15th and 16th points of the game.

Boone and Villanueva would step up again and lead UConn late in the game in the paint, enforcing their will on the Pirates frontcourt.

With UConn down 55-56, Boone scored 4 straight points off a feed from Charlie Villanueva and a transition layup. UConn tightened up on defense as the Pirates missed 7 straight shots and UConn nudged out to a 59-55 lead with just over seven minutes to go.

Connecticut would hang on pulling out a 77-68 lead as Williams took control of the game again when he came back at the 2:37 mark as he promptly hit a tough mid range jumper, "and one," followed by two freethrows giving the Huskies a 72-68 cushion with just over a minute and a half to play.

Although poor transition defense, turnovers (18), and foul trouble would plague the Huskies all afternoon, halfcourt defense, foul shooting, and a superior inside game would be enough to get them by a tough Seton Hall team on the road.

Connecticut shot 52.5% from the floor and 85% from the freethrow line (17-20) while out rebounding the Pirates 46-31 and holding them to 35% shooting for the game.

The Huskies perimeter game continued to struggle as Denham Brown and Rashad Anderson combined to shoot 3-11 from the floor for 6 points. Seton Hall collapsed on UConn's big men, sagging off UConn's ineffective perimeter players and often double and triple teaming the post. The Huskies failed to score a three point basket for the first time in 119 games.

Seton Hall was carried by forward Andre Sweet, who scored 22 points on 10-19 shooting with 6 rebounds.

Connecticut was once again led by Josh Boone with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 3 assists as he was a perfect 8-8 shooting from the floor. Rudy Gay added a career high 18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocked shots, and 2 assists. Charlie Villanueva continued his stellar play scoring 16 points on 7-13 shooting, with 12 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 3 assists. Villanueva has scored 62 points and pulled down 53 rebounds in the last 4 games. Antonio Kellogg contributed 6 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in 27 minutes of action.

Boone, Villanueva, and Gay combined to score 54 points on 21-32 shooting with 27 rebounds, 10 blocked shots, and 8 assists.

Ben Gordon, just hours after scoring the game winning basket for the Chicago Bulls over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, was in attendance as UConn defeated Seton Hall at Continental Airlines Arena. Calhoun joked that he looked over at Gordon and asked him to get in the game as UConn couldn't find their perimeter touch and could have used Gordon's help. Gordon, from Mt. Vernon, New York, has played some of the biggest games of his college career at Madison Square Garden in the Big East tournament and could be seen yelling "This is my house!" seconds after hitting a tough floater to win the game for the Bulls at the buzzer, 88-86. Gordon, who earned the nickname "Madison Square Gordon" while at Connecticut for his legendary performances at the New York venue, scored 17 points in the game, including 13 in the fourth quarter.

Up next the Huskies take on the #21 ranked Pittsburgh Panthers at Gampel Pavilion on Saturday at 9:00 pm. The game will be televised by ESPN.

Click here for more Inside Stuff.