An Aztecs team that had led or been down one point in all 10 of its losses this season, that was within four points late in the first half, suddenly looked up at the giant scoreboard in TD Garden and saw themselves trailing by 32.

The box score was littered with reasons why, but one stood out — literally and figuratively. The Aztecs allowed 10 offensive rebounds in last year's final … and 12 at halftime Thursday night without Nathan Mensah, Keshad Johnson and Aguek Arop.

The Huskies finished with 21 offensive boards — six by 6-foot-5 guard Tristen Newton — that allowed to them to extend possessions despite shooting 46.2%, under their season average of 49.6% that ranks sixth nationally. They had four on one possession. Total rebounds: 59-29.

The Aztecs shot 36.2% overall and were just 5 of 22 behind the 3-point arc after blistering the nylon for 13 treys in a 28-point win against Yale four days earlier.

LeDee scored their first seven points and 11 of their first 16, but finished with "only" 18 after scoring 32 and 26 last week in Spokane. Micah Parrish was the only other Aztec in double figures with 10. Lamont Butler had seven points and six assists.

If the idea was to hang around and keep the tournament's No. 1 overall seed within single digits, the Aztecs accomplished that for a half, at least.

They won the opening tip, something they have with increased infrequency this season, and worked the ball to LeDee to free-throw jumper and a 2-0 lead. At the first media timeout, they were still ahead, 10-9 compliments of a Darrion Trammell 3.

The problem was, they couldn't stop UConn at the other end. The Huskies scored on 12 of their first 15 possessions and had 27 points just nine minutes into the game — a rate of 180 points per 100 possessions.

Some context: The national average is 106.1 and the national leader (Illinois) is at 126.8.

Some more: They were doing it against an opponent ranked eighth nationally in defensive efficiency.

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