Philadelphia Showdown: UConn's Reed Jr. Dominates in March Madness Opener
In a thrilling March Madness opener, UConn's big man, Reed Jr., delivered a performance for the ages, leading the Huskies to an 82-71 victory over No. 15 Furman. His staggering 31 points and 27 rebounds marked a historic night, becoming only the third player in tournament history to achieve such a feat, joining legends Elvin Hayes and Jerry Lucas.
Reed Jr.'s dominance was pivotal as UConn, a two-seed with a 30-5 record, overcame a challenging shooting night from beyond the arc. His efforts on the glass were unmatched, single-handedly out-rebounding Furman and setting career highs in both points and rebounds. With precision shooting, going 12-of-15 from the field and 7-of-9 from the line, he also contributed three assists.
Supporting Reed Jr., Alex Karaban scored 15 of his 22 points in the second half, maintaining the Huskies' lead. Braylon Mullins added 12 points, six assists, and three key steals, while Solo Ball contributed nine points and five rebounds. Malachi Smith, making his first start, dished out seven assists.
Furman, led by Tom House and Alex Wilkins with 21 points each, kept the game close with strong three-point shooting. However, UConn's resilience and inside dominance, outscoring Furman 46-24 in the paint, proved decisive.
Game Flow and Key Moments
UConn started strong with a 9-2 run, but Furman quickly narrowed the gap, thanks to Wilkins' early three-pointers. The Paladins briefly took the lead, but Reed Jr.'s four consecutive buckets restored UConn's advantage. Despite a cold 1-of-14 start from three, Reed Jr.'s first-half double-double of 19 points and 16 rebounds kept the Huskies ahead 40-36 at halftime.
The second half saw UConn extend their lead with timely threes from Ball and Karaban. Furman persisted, cutting the lead to five with Wilkins' long-range shooting. However, Mullins' clutch steals and Karaban's dagger three-pointer at 2:06 sealed the win, ensuring Furman never got within single digits again.
By the Numbers
UConn shot 49.2% from the field but struggled from three, hitting only 20%. Inside the arc, they were a formidable 67.5%.
In contrast, Furman shot 44.7% overall and 37.5% from deep. The Huskies' 44-23 rebounding edge and 16-6 advantage in second-chance points underscored their dominance.
Reed Jr.'s historic night included the highest rebounding half for a UConn player in tournament history. His 11th double-double of the season was achieved in just under 12 minutes of play. Karaban also made history, becoming UConn's all-time leader in three-pointers and climbing the scoring list.
Looking Ahead
UConn's victory improves their all-time tournament record to 73-33, with coach Dan Hurley boasting an impressive .762 March Madness winning percentage. As the Huskies advance, they'll look to build on this momentum, driven by Reed Jr.'s remarkable performance and a team firing on all cylinders. The rest of the tournament should watch out-UConn is making a statement.