CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands — The second-ranked Connecticut Huskies will head back across the Atlantic Ocean sporting a championship trophy after sweeping the Paradise Jam tournament in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Jerome Dyson scored 21 points and Connecticut beat Wisconsin (No. 19 ESPN/USA Today, No. 25 AP) 76-57 on Monday night.

“This was a very good win for us because we proved we could press. It’s just amazing what our press did against a team as good as Wisconsin, ” Huskies coach Jim Calhoun said. “We squeezed them with our pressure and our defense. ”

Jeff Adrien had 14 points and Kemba Walker added 12 points and four steals for the Huskies (5-0), who led 38-28 at halftime. Hasheem Thabeet, who finished with nine points, seven rebounds and three blocks, was the tournament MVP.

“We’re here! ” the jubilant 7-3 junior center said as he held the Paradise Jam trophy, surrounded by his teammates.

Outside the locker room, Dyson said securing the tournament championship was a big boost.

“It feels great. We’ve been waiting for this moment a long time, ” said Dyson, whose steal followed by a thundering dunk with 11:52 left in the second half brought Connecticut’s fans to their feet.

Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said his team made some bad decisions with the ball down the stretch. ”

Just guys not moving to the ball, making hard cuts. [Connecticut is] a very difficult team to come from behind against, ” Ryan said. “Three or four turnovers can quickly change a game. We’re not immune

. “UConn scored 31 of its points off turnovers

Keaton Nankivil led the Badgers (4-1) with 11 points, and Marcus Landry, Trevon Hughes, and Lon Leuer had nine apiece.

With the Paradise Jam victory, UConn claimed its second tropical in-season tournament title in the last four seasons, having won the Maui Invitational in 2005.