UConn wins in first round of NIT

(AP) - Jerome Dyson scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half and Connecticut hung on to beat Northeastern 59-57 Tuesday in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

Dyson, who scored a total of 18 points in his previous three games, had 11 points in the final 7½ minutes to help bring UConn (18-15) back from a six-point deficit. His free throws with 53 seconds left provided the winning margin.

UConn's Kemba Walker had a chance to ice the game, but missed the front end of two 1-and-1s in the final minute.

Baptiste Bataille's 3-point attempt, which would have won the game for Northeastern at the buzzer, fell short.

Matt Janning scored 17 points for Northeastern (20-13), which finished second in the Colonial Athletic Association. Manny Adako added 14 points.

Connecticut advances to play the winner of Wednesday night's game between Quinnipiac and top-seeded Virginia Tech.