UConn 75, Utah State 67

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Khalid El-Amin kept Connecticut in control. <br><br>With the star point guard in charge until injuring his right ankle, the defending champions opened the NCAA South Regional

Friday, March 17th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Khalid El-Amin kept Connecticut in control.

With the star point guard in charge until injuring his right ankle, the defending champions opened the NCAA South Regional on Friday with a 75-67 victory over Utah State that snapped the Aggies' 19-game winning streak.

El-Amin hurt himself while driving with four minutes left with the Huskies safely ahead. He returned a minute later, but then limped off again, and the severity the injury was not known.

The fifth-seeded Huskies (25-9) never trailed, building a 15-point lead late in the first half. Utah State (28-6) scored the first eight points of the second half to pull within two, but El-Amin hit a 3-pointer and set up Albert Mouring's three-point play.

El-Amin and Mouring each had 14 points and Kevin Freeman added 13. The Huskies improved to 9-0 in first-round games under coach Jim Calhoun. They advanced to play fourth-seeded Tennessee, a 63-58 winner over Louisiana-Lafayette, on Sunday.

No defending champion has lost in the opening round since UCLA in 1996 and the Huskies made sure it did not happen to them, sending Utah State to its ninth straight loss in NCAA tournament play.

Troy Rolle had 18 points and Shawn Daniels 17 for the Aggies.