By Neill Ostrout
STAFF WRITER
STORRS _ Edgar Sosa’s driving layup with 8.2 seconds left gave Louisville a stunning 78-76 win over UConn Sunday afternoon on Senior Day at Gampel Pavilion.
Kemba Walker, who has scored in bunches during UConn’s recent win streak, led the Huskies with 28 points. But Walker was blocked by Louisville’s Samardo Samuels in the final seconds in his attempt to tie the game.
Gavin Edwards had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Huskies (17-12, 7-9), who saw their three-game win streak end and their NCAA Tournament hopes take something of a blow.
UConn lost despite holding a 50-22 advantage in rebounds. That’s because it also committed a season-high 22 turnovers.
Samuels led Louisville (19-10, 10-6) with 14 points.
Walker’s 3-pointer with 1:40 to play gave his team a 76-75 lead.
Louisville tied the game with 1:04 to go as Samuels was fouled and hit 1-of-2 from the free throw line.
On UConn’s ensuing possession Jerome Dyson drove to the basket and tried to force a pass to Alex Oriakhi, resulting only in his sixth turnover of the game.
Louisville coach Rick Pitino called timeout with 29.3 seconds to design a play. Coming out of the stoppage, Sosa drove hard to his right with Walker following closely and flipped the ball into the basket for the game-winner.
UConn led by 13 points late in the first half but found itself trailing by seven with just over seven minutes to play in the game.
A 10-0 run put the home team ensued, however, and UConn took a 71-68 lead on a pair of Edwards free throws with 4:06 to play.
