HARTFORD — Ohio State and Michigan have never seen eye to eye on much, though that may be more a story for later this month on the gridiron.
However, the respective schools’ men’s basketball programs, likely begrudgingly, do hold at least one thing in common: a loss to the 2026-27 UConn Huskies.
After handing Michigan an eight-point loss last Friday, the No. 4 Huskies (4-0) doubled that margin a week later, taking down Ohio State (2-2) at PeoplesBank Arena Friday night, 84-68.
“I liken [Ohio State] to that Texas team we played in here last year [a 71-63 UConn win],” UConn Head Coach Dan Hurley said after the game, praising the Buckeyes’ potential. “I think, right now, it feels like a good win, but I think it could be a win that ages well for us.”
That Texas contest last December marked the first career start for now-sophomore Braylon Mullins.
Coming off a 2-for-12 shooting performance Monday in UConn’s 83-41 victory over Wagner, including going 1-of-9 from beyond the arc, the shooting guard came out firing against the Buckeyes. Thirteen seconds into the contest, Mullins had tied his 3-point total from the game prior, picking up the first three points of the game for the Huskies.
Baskets from forwards Jayden Ross and Colben Landrew, the latter making the first regular season start of his career in place of the injured Nik Khamenia, gave the Huskies a 7-2 advantage two minutes in.
That didn’t last long, as five-straight Ohio State points and a two-minute scoring drought from the Huskies tied the game and kept it within one through the first media timeout.
Even with point guard Silas Demary Jr. playing just seven minutes in the first half after picking up his third foul with 12:59 to play in the period, the Huskies pulled ahead by as much as 13 and held that lead until the 9:55 mark.
While the Buckeyes went on a seven-point run to cut the lead to six in less than two minutes, Landrew responded with a 3-point play after drawing a foul on guard Justin Pippen. Mullins then made it a double-digit game once again, scoring on a fast break after a Ross steal.
Much like he did against Wagner, forward Egor Amosov entered the game in the closing minutes of the first half as UConn looked maintain its lead. Unlike in Monday’s contest, the freshman made an immediate impact, taking advantage of the minutes left by Khamenia’s absence by turning an offensive rebound into a drained 3-pointer.
That was the second-to-last basket of the half for the Huskies, as guard Jimmie Williams led the Buckeyes on a 13-1 run to end the first half, aided by a four-plus minute field goal drought from UConn. With only an Oskar Giltay free throw breaking up Ohio State’s scoring, the Buckeyes pulled within two to make it 42-40 heading into the half.
The contest remained within two points for the first five minutes of the second half as both teams swapped scores.
That pattern finally broke almost six minutes in. After the teams traded fouls on the Ohio State offensive end, Mullins sank his fourth 3-pointer of the contest, once again bringing the UConn faithful to their feet.
Those cheers momentarily grew louder as forward Josh Ojianwuna appeared to jam an unsuccessful dunk attempt into the side of the rim. A few seconds later, the cheers shifted to boos, as center Na’jai Hines was charged with his third foul after making contact with Ojianwuna, the latter sending home a pair of free throws.
Ross found the cure for those boos 22 seconds later, hitting another 3-pointer on the other end of the floor as the Huskies began to once again pull away.
While guard Junior County and Williams traded layups, a Demary Jr. jumper from the paint and a trio of field goals from Hines on three-straight UConn possessions helped the Huskies lengthen that lead.
Mullins’ fifth and final 3-pointer of the contest then tied a bow on a 12-2 run for the Huskies to put them up 74-58. Mullins finished the contest with a team-high 22 points and plus-23 rating, marking the third time in four contests the sophomore has broken 20 points and led the team in scoring.
“What [Mullins] does is so beyond just the 5-for-9 [3-point shooting], the 7-for-13 [field goal shooting],” Hurley said. “It’s rare that you have a shooter, scorer who can also pass it [and] who also is that sturdy on defense. He’s a special guy.”
UConn never led by less than 14 from that point on. The Huskies finished the contest on a four-for-five streak from the field, in part thanks to another two field goals from Hines. The sophomore finished with a career-high 20 points in a nearly perfect 7-for-8 shooting performance, with 17 of those points coming in the second half.
“Today, [Hurley] just told me to rock out and do what I think is best,” Hines said. “In a way, I felt relieved.”
UConn outscored Ohio State 42-28 in the second half, emptying the bench with just over 30 seconds to play. 
Though he slowed down in the second half, adding just four more points, John Mobley Jr. led the Buckeyes with 16 points and four assists.
The Huskies are now 3-0 against Big Ten competition this season, including their exhibition win over Michigan State. UConn also has a date with No. 3 Illinois on the horizon, but only after it faces two other top 25 opponents.
That will start next Wednesday, as the Huskies head West for their first true road game of the season against No. 12 Arizona (3-1).
Tipoff at the McKale Center is scheduled for 9 p.m. EST. The game will broadcast live on FS1.