NEW YORK – The UConn men’s basketball team advanced to the Big East Tournament semifinals after a decisive 93-68 victory over No. 10 seed Xavier at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2026.
The Huskies (28-4) delivered a standout performance, highlighted by a combined 51 points from their leading trio. Solo Ball led the charge with 19 points, hitting four three-pointers, while Tarris Reed Jr. notched a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Alex Karaban contributed significantly with 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
“We’ve played top five basketball, we’ve been ranked in the top five pretty much the whole year. Whether it’s strength of record, wins above bubble, I mean, we’ve been a top five team the whole year. That’s who we are,” said UConn coach Dan Hurley. “We don’t have anything to show for it yet. We don’t got a championship yet. We don’t got a Final Four yet. But don’t forget who we are.”
Hurley continued to highlight the Huskies' season, reflecting on their capability to defeat high seeds: “We’re now a 28-4 team that beat some really high seeds. We beat a potential 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. We’ve beaten a 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. We got some great, great wins.”
The UConn bench also made a critical impact, with Jayden Ross leading the second unit. Ross excelled defensively, contributing three steals, while also scoring nine points, grabbing four rebounds, and providing three assists in 22 minutes of play.
The Huskies, determined to rebound from a disappointing regular season finale against Marquette, came out strong. They secured 12 offensive rebounds in the first half, maintaining a shooting percentage of 56.3% while only committing three turnovers. UConn quickly established a commanding lead, which peaked at 22 points.
Karaban noted the importance of bouncing back after their previous loss: “Heading into the game we had flushed Milwaukee, learn from it but keep that pain inside of you moving forward just with how heartbreaking that loss was. But we know how special it is to play in MSG... I thought the first half was pretty good.”
As the game progressed, UConn displayed impressive teamwork. The 12-1 run they executed late in the first half showcased their defensive tenacity and commitment to controlling the game.
Even with Jaylin Stewart sidelined due to injury, UConn's depth shone through. The starters dominated the first half without turning the ball over, leading to a 50-30 advantage at halftime.
However, the start of the second half posed challenges for the Huskies, as they quickly racked up two turnovers and missed three consecutive shots on their opening possessions. This allowed Xavier to narrow the gap, prompting a sense of urgency for UConn to refocus.
“We’ve got to be more disciplined,” Hurley emphasized after the first few minutes of the second half. Despite the slow start, UConn's earlier efforts proved sufficient to maintain their lead throughout the remainder of the game.
Next, UConn prepares to face the winner of the matchup between No. 3 Villanova and No. 11 Georgetown in the semifinal round scheduled for Friday at 8 p.m. Having displayed resilience and strategic prowess, the Huskies aim to continue their pursuit of another championship title.