There is a toughness about No. 25 Connecticut, and it was evident in its first game as a ranked team under coach Dan Hurley.

Playing its second game without leading scorer James Bouknight (elbow), the Huskies struggled to make shots or claim rebounds on Jan. 11 at Big East rival DePaul. They hit just 40.4 percent from the field, missed 11 of their 24 foul shots and were outboarded 39-29.

But they found a way to win at the end, holding the Blue Demons scoreless for the last 4:27 and forcing 24 turnovers in a 60-53 decision. UConn aims for its fifth straight win on Monday when it hosts St. John's in another Big East contest in Storrs.