HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -Kemba Walker scored 28 points and Stanley Robinson added 25 as No. 12 Connecticut rolled past American International College 106-67 in an exhibition game Wednesday night, despite playing without starting guard Jerome Dyson.
Dyson, a senior, junior Donnell Beverly and freshman Jamal Coombs-McDaniel were held out of the opening exhibition because of problems with their eligibility paperwork. UConn announced before the game the players would not participate ``pending evaluation of recently submitted paperwork pertaining to their annual eligibility certification.''
UConn coach Jim Calhoun said he did not learn the status of the three players until earlier Wednesday.
``I found out about Jamal Coombs at 10 this morning and then I found out about Jerome and Donnell Beverly at 4:45,'' Calhoun said after the game. ``We had already been through our shootaround. My major concern obviously (with seven scholarship players for the game) was the foul situation.''
Aikeem Vanderhorst scored 18 points and Isiah Wallace had 17 for the Yellow Jackets, a Division II team that finished 15-13 last season.
All of UConn's scholarship players were in the game as the Huskies built a 57-29 halftime lead.
Asked if he expects the players to be cleared before UConn's exhibition game Sunday against UMass Lowell, Calhoun said, ``I can't answer that, but right now I do anticipate that, yeah. That's what I think, but that's never the way it goes.''
Walker, moving into the starting role at point guard as a sophomore, had 17 points in the first half and finished with 12 assists.
The Huskies shot 75 percent (21 of 28) from the field in the first half and dominated the boards with a 23-5 advantage. UConn grabbed the first 13 rebounds of the game as the Yellow Jackets went over 10 minutes without a board.
Freshman center Alex Oriakhi started for the Huskies and had 16 points and 16 rebounds.
