UConn edges Temple 28-21 to avoid winless season

PHILADELPHIA -- UConn won its first game of the season and avoided setting a new program record for consecutive losses with a 28-21 come-from-behind win over Temple on Saturday night. Freshman quarterback Casey Cochran tied the game on a 1-yard rush with 6:52 to play and linebacker Yawin Smallwood won it when he intercepted Temple quarterback P.J. Walker and returned the ball 59 yards for the game-winning touchdown with 4:20 remaining. The Huskies (1-9, 1-6) rallied from a 21-0 halftime deficit with 28 unanswered points in the second half, as Temple (1-10, 0-7) blew its sixth second-half lead of the season and fourth fourth-quarter lead. UConn had tied a program record with 10 consecutive losses coming into the game, a streak dating back to last season. Smallwood tied for a team-high with eight tackles.