Adama Sanogo leads UConn to win over Saint Mary's behind 24-point performance

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

Adama Sanogo scored 24 points and Jordan Hawkins delivered from the 3-point line in the second half as UConn pulled away from Saint Mary's for a 70-55 win on Sunday that put the Huskies in the Sweet 16 for the first time in nine years.

No. 4 seed UConn (27-8) advanced to the West Regional in Las Vegas on Thursday. Next up is eighth-seeded Arkansas, which knocked off No. 1 seed Kansas.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

UConn guard Tristen Newton (2) listens to coach Dan Hurley during the first half of the team's second-round college basketball game against Saint Mary's in the men's NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 19, 2023, in Albany, N.Y.  (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)

Sanogo followed up his 28-point game in the Huskies' NCAA tourney opener against Iona with another powerful and efficient performance in the paint. The 245-pound junior was 11 for 16 from the floor and grabbed eight rebounds, dominating a big-man matchup with Mitchell Saxen (six points, three rebounds and four fouls).

Saint Mary's (27-8) of the West Coast Conference failed to get out of the first weekend of the tournament for the second straight season as a No. 5 seed.

Aidan Mahaney and Logan Johnson each scored nine for the Gaels, who played the final 25 minutes without third-leading scorer Alex Ducas. The senior left with an apparent back injury.

St. Mary's Aidan Mahaney (20) drives against Connecticut's Nahiem Alleyne, left, in the first half of a second-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 19, 2023, in Albany, N.Y.  (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

UConn used a 14-2 spurt, highlighted by a 3 from Hawkins with 11:28 left in