UConn men’s basketball team achieved a solid 72-54 victory against DePaul in Chicago, improving their Big East record to 2-0. Although the Huskies (12-1, 2-0 Big East) struggled initially without their star guard Solo Ball, who was sidelined due to a wrist injury sustained in the previous game against Butler, they ultimately rallied to secure the win.
The game got off to a rocky start for UConn, as they committed six turnovers within the first eight minutes, yielding 12 points to DePaul. The Blue Demons built an early lead, going ahead by as much as eight points. However, the Huskies responded with Jaylin Stewart stepping up in the starting lineup to complement Silas Demary Jr., who scored five consecutive points to ignite a 9-0 run, securing UConn’s first lead of the night.
Jaylin Stewart’s crafty reverse layup gave the Huskies a permanent lead with just over six minutes left in the first half. UConn managed to stretch their advantage to five points in the closing moments of the half, entering the break ahead 33-30 despite a sloppy performance that included 13 turnovers.
The second half revealed a different UConn team, as they quickly scored four points to increase their lead. Capitalizing on their momentum, the Huskies embarked on a 12-2 run, reaching a commanding 52-36 lead midway through the period. Their defense was particularly effective, limiting DePaul to just eight points in the first ten minutes of the second half.
The Huskies extended their lead to 17 points following a putback from Tarris Reed Jr., but DePaul made a last effort to narrow the gap. With a steady offensive response from UConn, including a critical three-pointer from Braylon Mullins, the game concluded without any significant threats from the Blue Demons.
Leading the scoring for UConn was Alex Karaban, who netted 21 points while also contributing six rebounds, two assists, and a block. Tarris Reed Jr. recorded his second double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds, aided by four assists. Despite feeling under the weather, Silas Demary Jr. came close to a triple-double, finishing with 14 points, seven assists, and eight rebounds.
With a short break ahead for the holidays, UConn is set to return to the court on New Year’s Eve for a road matchup against Xavier, with the game slated to begin at 5:00 p.m. ET and broadcasted on NBC Sports and available for streaming on Peacock. This performance reinforces UConn’s resilience and potential as they head into the latter part of the season with optimism.