UConn Flexes Its Muscle in Blowout Win Over Xavier, Sets Stage for Showdown with St. John’s
HARTFORD - UConn didn’t just beat Xavier on Tuesday night - they dismantled them. The third-ranked Huskies rolled to a 92-60 win at PeoplesBank Arena, completing a season sweep of the Musketeers and pushing their win streak to 18 games.
With the Big East’s marquee matchup looming Friday against Rick Pitino’s St. John’s squad, this performance was more than just business as usual - it was a statement.
UConn is now 22-1 overall and a perfect 12-0 in Big East play. And if Tuesday was supposed to be a tune-up, the Huskies looked like a team already in mid-March form.
From the opening tip, UConn imposed its will. The first possession alone told the story - three offensive rebounds, relentless energy, and a tone-setting effort even if it didn’t end in points.
But it didn’t take long for the scoreboard to reflect the dominance. Freshman Braylon Mullins knocked down a three on the next trip down the floor and then put on a highlight reel of his own with back-to-back transition dunks.
The Huskies opened the game on a 16-2 run, and the rout was on.
Mullins, one of five Huskies to finish in double figures, tallied 13 points in 24 minutes. He didn’t need to carry the load - not with the way UConn was clicking across the board.
Point guard Silas Demary Jr. was the engine, delivering 17 points, eight assists, four rebounds and two steals. He was efficient from deep, hitting 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, and controlled the tempo from start to finish.
Tarris Reed Jr. was flawless in the paint, going a perfect 7-for-7 from the field for 14 points while grabbing eight rebounds. Off the bench, Eric Reibe added 14 points and seven boards, and Jayden Ross chipped in 11 points, including a pair of threes. Alex Karaban had a well-rounded night with nine points, six rebounds, and six assists, while Solo Ball added nine more to the tally.
By the time Dan Hurley started clearing the bench with six minutes left, UConn had already checked every box. The Huskies shot 56.7% from the field and hit 10 of 27 from deep. They dominated the glass with a 41-24 rebounding edge, racked up 26 assists on 34 made field goals, and crushed Xavier in the paint (46-20) and in transition (17-3).
The first half was a clinic. UConn shot 61.3% from the floor and assisted on 17 of its 19 made shots before the break.
The ball movement was crisp, the spacing was textbook, and the shot selection was elite. Demary knocked down back-to-back threes, Jaylin Stewart added one of his own, and Reed was unstoppable inside, going 5-for-5 in the half.
The Huskies walked into the locker room up 50-22, and the game was essentially over.
To their credit, Xavier didn’t completely fold. The Musketeers found a rhythm early in the second half and strung together a 9-0 run to trim a 34-point deficit down to 25 with 12 minutes to play.
But UConn quickly slammed the door shut. Reed found Ross in the corner for a three, Demary muscled his way to a three-point play and followed it up with a dunk, and Ross drilled another triple off a Karaban assist.
Just like that, the lead ballooned back to 33.
Now, all eyes turn to Friday night at Madison Square Garden. No.
3 UConn vs. No.
22 St. John’s.
Dan Hurley vs. Rick Pitino.
First place on the line in the Big East. It’s a primetime showdown with all the makings of a classic - and UConn’s firing on all cylinders heading into it.