Everything is bigger in Texas. Well, almost everything.
They don’t call Connecticut the Basketball Capital of the World for nothin’, partner. The Texas Longhorns were reminded of that on Friday, as No. 5 UConn men’s basketball extended its win streak to six in a 71-63 final.
The contest marked the last of the Huskies’ (10-1) non-conference schedule, finishing the slate with just one loss, to Arizona, the No. 1 team in the country. Friday was the seventh all-time meeting between the two teams, as UConn improved its record over the Longhorns to 6-1.
“So proud of the guys, and so proud of the team, just for what we’ve been able to do at the non-conference here with the quality of the opposition, and then just the adversity,” Head Coach Dan Hurley said.
Alex Karaban continued to be UConn’s steady hand. He led the game in scoring with 18 points. He followed up a Solo Ball buzzer beater from Timbuktu with a three of his own to put the Huskies up 11.
Consistency was a struggle for Karaban through a disappointing season for UConn last year. He has turned around that narrative so far this season. Friday was Karaban’s fifth game in a row scoring at least 11 points while shooting better than 40% from the field.
“I think last year gave him perspective,” Hurley said. “I think losing that entitlement, just being grateful to have another opportunity, you know, to have his last ride at UConn, and he knows he’s got a strong team around him, a stronger team this year. It’s given him a lot of confidence.”
Braylon Mullins earned the first collegiate start of his career after making his debut just two weeks prior against Illinois. An ankle injury sidelined Mullins through the first six games of the season.
The former five-star recruit’s first basket as a starter came just after the 17-minute mark, as he fielded a dribble handoff from Karaban and buried a three from NBA distance. He nailed a turnaround jumper at the baseline on the following possession that set PeoplesBank ablaze.
“There’s no real surprise with Braylon, he’s been doing this since the summer,” Karaban said.”
Tarris Reed Jr. totaled five assists on the night. Yes, five. The tally was a career-best for the near-seven-footer, eclipsing his previous high of three which he had achieved on several occasions.
Reed made some of the prettiest passes of the game. His first assist of the night came as he split two defenders with a bounce pass that found Karaban in stride. Reed then made a cross-court pass to Jaylin Stewart that would have made an MLB third baseman jealous.
The Preseason All-Big East First Team selection finished the game in double figures for the fourth time in just five games played, scoring 12.
“You do have to have a center at the top of the key that’s got size and has got vision and dexterity with his hands that can make those kinds of thread-the-needle passes,” Hurley said.
On the topic of great passing, Malachi Smith had another impressive night off the bench. His nine assists for the second game in a row vaulted him to his 500th career assist. Smith is now sitting at 508 assists all-time between Dayton and UConn.
“Making reads with the ball, playmaking, it’s kind of just natural to me,” Smith said. “I just want to make sure my guys get shots.”
Despite a night of assist records, turnovers were a glaring issue for the Huskies. UConn was averaging less than 10 per game coming into the contest before committing 15 on the night. Silas Demary Jr. committed a five through less than 20 minutes of play, a season high for the Georgia transfer.
“15 turnovers was a mess,” Hurley said. “We would have scored 80 plus if we didn’t turn the ball over 15 times.”
The Huskies were able to rattle off several big runs throughout the game, but key shots from the Texas back court kept UConn from running away with it. Jordan Pope and Tramon Mark each scored 15 to keep pace with the Huskies.
The pair combined for eight points in the final three minutes to bring the game as close as six. But the Longhorns’ efforts would not be enough, as Smith buried a mid-range jumper before Stewart punched home a dunk with thirty seconds to go, which sealed the win for the Huskies.
UConn will now pivot towards Big East play which begins on Tuesday when the team takes on Butler. The Huskies will be back in Hartford for the second game in a row.
The game will tip off at 8:30 p.m. and can be watched on NBC Sports or streamed on Peacock.