NEW YORK – Here are three observations about No. 8 Gonzaga’s 77-71 loss to No. 18 Connecticut on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

Free nights for Ike, Hickman

For the second straight season against UConn, Gonzaga starting center Graham Ike and starting guard Nolan Hickman were ineffective.

Ike only attempted one shot and scored a point in 8 minutes of the first half. The Zags tried to get him going early in the second half, but he got ahead on the first possession before missing a 3-foot shot. He drew the third foul on UConn post Tarris Reed, who played most of the minutes after starting center Solomon Johnson because of an injury in the first half.

Ike picked up his third foul with 17:56 left and was replaced by Braden Huff. Ike finished with three points in 12 minutes. He had five points against the Huskies’ Donovan Clingan-led defense in Seattle last year.

Hickman didn’t score for eight minutes in the first half. He was eliminated early in the second half, shortly after missing a shot attempt. Hickman played 12 minutes and did not score a goal.

Hickman scored eight points on 3-of-10 shooting in 39 minutes against UConn last season.

Nembhard shines in bright light

During warmups well before the game began, a UConn fan sitting about a dozen rows above the floor saw Ryan Nembhard fire a shot and yelled, “You can’t handle the Big East, Ryan!” Crying Ryan.”

Nembhard, who spent his first two seasons with Creighton in the Big East, went 2-1 against the Huskies in games with the Bluejays. He came up short last year as a junior at Gonzaga and again Saturday night against UConn.

Nembhard was a key reason the Zags stayed within striking distance after an early deficit. He finished the game with 16 points, seven assists, two steals and just two turnovers in 40 minutes. After shooting a three-pointer to make it 55-0, Nembhard missed four of his last five shots.

Fabulous newbie

UConn freshman Liam McNeeley was a thorn in GU’s side the entire time. The 1.90 meter tall McNeeley led all scorers with 13 points in the first half.

McNeeley, a five-star recruit from Richardson, Texas, the same hometown as former Zags star Drew Timme, finished with 26 points. His previous season high was 20 against Colorado at the Maui Invitational.

McNeeley played one season at Pearce High with Walker Timme, Drew’s younger brother.