Christian Vital scored 20 points and Jalen Adams added 18 as UConn pulled away at the end of a close game to beat Southern Methodist, 63-52, at Gampel Pavilion on Thursday night.
UConn was only up four points with five minutes to go, but quality defense and a late hot streak pushed the final margin to 11.
Tyler Polley got a surprise start in over Isaiah Whaley while Antwoine Anderson started for the injured Terry Larrier, and both played well defensively, as Anderson helped to hold SMU star Shake Milton to a 5-16 shooting performance from the field.