UConn (3-0) trailed Hofstra 54-45 with 9 minutes remaining but went ahead 59-58 on two free throws by Dyson with 5:20 to go. The teams then exchanged the lead four times before the Huskies went up for good 63-62 with 4:16 left.

Led by Charles Jenkins (FSY), the Pride (1-2) twice cut UConn's lead to one in the final minutes, but Dyson scored nine straight points in the final 1:39 for UConn to secure the win and advance to the tournament's semifinals next week at Madison Square Garden.

Kemba Walker had 16 points, Stanley Robinson had 15, and Gavin Edwards (FSY) 10 for the Huskies.

Jenkins scored 21 of his 25 points in the second half for Hofstra, while Cornelius Vines added 18.

Hofstra suffered through a poor shooting night (24 of 73), but remained within striking distance through a 43-39 rebounding advantage, and nine three-pointers. The Pride rallied from a 23-11 first-half deficit to cut the lead to 30-23 at halftime.

Trailing 38-31 with 15:22 remaining, however, Hofstra took over the game with help from three-pointers by Jenkins, Cornelius Vines, and Halil Kanacevic. The Pride went on a 23-7 run, taking a 54-45 lead over the Huskies.

Robinson stopped the run with a three-pointer and the Huskies hung on late for the win.

Enlarge By Fred Beckham, AP Jamal Coombs-McDaniel and UConn rallied from a nine-point deficit in the second half to hold off Chaz Wililams and Hofstra.