TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 16 (UPI) -- An off-balance jumper by Craig Austrie with two-tenths of a second left in overtime Saturday lifted 17th-ranked Connecticut past South Florida 74-73.
The victory ran UConn's winning streak to nine in a row after a huge scare. Its overall record improved to 20-5 (9-3 Big East).
Connecticut held a 27-26 halftime lead but USF's Jesus Verdejo drained a three-pointer with 21 seconds left in regulation. creating a 65-65 tie.
A.J. Price led the winners with 23 points and seven assists. Doug Wiggins scored 20, and Jeff Adrien added 12 points and seven rebounds in the first overtime game this season for either school.
USF's Kentrell Gransberry recorded 26 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots for his 14th double-double this season and 26th of his career.
Verdejo had 17 points and five rebounds and Dominique Jones had 14 points, four rebounds and four assists for the Bulls (11-15, 2-11), who have lost 11 of 12.
