It was not the prettiest effort, but the No. 3 UConn men’s basketball team preserved its undefeated Big East record and extended its win streak to 13 games with a 69-64 win over No. 25 Seton Hall.
UConn
(17-1, 7-0 Big East) snapped a four-game road losing streak to the Pirates that had haunted the program since 2021 behind an impeccable performance from Tarris Reed Jr. The Huskies, entering tonight, had lost four-straight games on the road vs. Seton Hall, but it was Reed’s play that carried the team on a night when the offense just did not click.
Reed, as Dan Hurley said postgame, “imposed his will on this game,” as the junior center put up a game-high 21 points, paired with nine rebounds, three blocks, and one steal. His only blemish on the night came from the free throw line, where the former Michigan transfer was just 5-13 from the stripe while the rest of the Huskies were 11-13.
Alex Karaban and Braylon Mullins were the only other Huskies to finish the low-scoring affair with double-digit points, with 13 and 11 points, respectively. UConn’s 69 points marked the team’s third-lowest total of the year, behind the loss to Arizona (67) and the win over Kansas (61).
An ugly start to the first half was cloaked by an even uglier half by Seton Hall. The Huskies just could not find their stroke from range, shooting 2-10 over the first 20 and 3-17 for the game. The Pirates somehow fared worse, shooting just 1-16 from beyond the arc all game. While the offense sputtered, Seton Hall’s defense kept the action close. Six blocks in the first half were on par with the Pirates’ identity, as the team ranks 12th in the nation in blocks per game with 5.7.
As the Huskies began to settle in, the Pirates went ice cold to close the half, failing to score over the final seven minutes. The sudden downturn allowed UConn to build out an 18-3 run and enter the locker room up 32-22.
The Huskies continued to build their command throughout the second half, growing a lead as large as 18 points. The Pirates would not be outdone, storming back to put together a 16-5 run that saw UConn’s lead shrink to just six points with minutes to spare.
Seton Hall’s first and aforementioned only 3-pointer of the night came with 47.3 seconds to play in the game, and it was as timely as ever, cutting UConn’s lead to just one. A costly Reed turnover put the ball in the hands of Mike Williams, who heaved a three that missed, before connecting from the same spot after an offensive rebound saved the possession.
UConn, meanwhile, failed to make a field goal in the final five minutes of the second half. Free-throw shooting kept the lead intact, and Seton Hall did not do itself any favors, committing costly turnovers and ticky-tack fouls. In the game’s waning seconds, Mullins got of position on defense, but recovered with a game-sealing block on a Williams’ three. A key rebound from Silas Demary Jr.and two free throws from the Georgia transfer officially put the game out of the reach for the Pirates. Demary Jr. finished the night with eight points, seven assists and three rebounds.
It was another cold effort for Solo Ball, who shot just 3-9 with eight points, including 1-7 from beyond the arc. His five turnovers marked a team high. Hurley again kept the rotation tight, with all starters playing well over 30 minutes. Only Jaylin Stewart played double-digit minutes off the bench, with Malachi Smith and Eric Reibe playing a combined 15 minutes.
The win over Hurley’s alma mater is UConn’s fifth victory against AP Top 25 teams this year, matching their total from last season. A Saturday tipoff awaits UConn for its next game, taking on Georgetown on the road at 12:00 p.m. on FOX.
