COL BKB: Connecticut 62, Seton Hall 54

NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Hasheem Thabett came up one blocked shot short of a rare triple-double Saturday in boosting top-ranked Connecticut to a 62-54 Big East win over Seton Hall.

Thabett scored 25 points, grabbed 20 rebounds and had nine blocked shots in Connecticut's 13th straight victory.

UConn took a 24-13 lead just before halftime and brushed off any Seton Hall comeback attempt in the second stanza.

Thabeet's two free throws made it 51-39 with just under 11 minutes remaining, and Seton Hall trailed by at least seven points the rest of the way.

Jeff Adrien, the only other in double figures, scored 14 points with 15 rebounds for the Huskies (24-1, 12-1 Big East), who matched the 1995-96 squad for the best start in school history.

John Garcia led SHU with 22 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots.

High-scoring Jeremy Hazell was held to 14 points after sinking just 5-of-22 shots. Robert Mitchell added eight points and 15 rebounds for the Pirates (14-10, 5-7), whose five-game winning streak ended.