UConn Delivers Statement Win Over Xavier, Extends Win Streak to 18
HARTFORD - From the opening tip, UConn made it clear: this one was going to be over early. The No.
3 Huskies came out firing with a 10-0 blitz and never looked back, rolling to a commanding 92-60 win over Xavier at PeoplesBank Arena. It was a wire-to-wire clinic that extended UConn’s win streak to 18 games - the third-longest single-season run in program history - and pushed their BIG EAST record to a perfect 12-0, second only to the legendary 14-0 start in 1995-96.
This was UConn basketball at its most complete - efficient, unselfish, and relentless. The Huskies shot a blistering 56.7 percent from the field, their best shooting night since early November and their most accurate in conference play this season. They dished out 26 assists on 34 made field goals, hit double-digit threes for the third straight game, and dominated nearly every statistical category.
Balanced, Unselfish, and Flat-Out Dangerous
What stood out most wasn’t just the score - it was how the Huskies got there. Seven players scored at least nine points, with five hitting double figures. Sophomore guard Silas Demary Jr. led the charge with 17 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and two steals - a stat line that speaks to his growing role as both a scorer and facilitator.
Down low, the center tandem of Tarris Reed Jr. and Eric Reibe was nearly unstoppable. They combined for 28 points and 15 rebounds, shooting a combined 12-of-13 from the field. That kind of frontcourt efficiency is a nightmare for any opponent, and it gave UConn a 46-20 edge in points in the paint.
Freshman Braylon Mullins poured in 13 first-half points, setting the tone early, while Jayden Ross added 11 off the bench, including three makes from deep in just 15 minutes. Alex Karaban and Solo Ball chipped in nine apiece, with Karaban also tallying six rebounds and six assists in another all-around effort.
A First-Half Masterclass
UConn didn’t just start fast - they sustained it. Mullins scored the first six points of the night, and by the time Demary Jr. knocked down back-to-back threes, the Huskies were up 22-6.
A 7-0 run midway through the first half ballooned the lead past 20, and a Mullins triple capped an 8-2 spurt that forced another Xavier timeout. By halftime, it was 50-22, and the game felt all but over.
The Huskies were surgical in that opening frame - 61.3 percent shooting, 17 assists, and just one allowed by Xavier. The defensive intensity was just as impressive, holding the Musketeers to 28.6 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from three.
Second Half, Same Story
There was no let-up after the break. UConn hit five of its first six shots in the second half and stretched the lead to 34 within five minutes.
The margin would grow to as many as 38, and Xavier never got closer than 24 the rest of the way. The final eight minutes were essentially a formality, with the Huskies cruising to their 12th conference win and 26th straight victory in Hartford.
Inside the Numbers
- UConn shot 34-of-60 from the field (56.7%), 10-of-27 from three (37.0%), and 14-of-18 from the line (77.8%).
- The Huskies held Xavier to 36.7% shooting overall and just 6-of-17 from beyond the arc.
- In the first half alone, UConn shot 61.3% from the field and 53.8% from three, while limiting Xavier to 28.6% and 16.7%, respectively.
- The Huskies racked up 26 assists - their eighth 20+ assist game of the season and fourth in conference play.
- They dominated the glass, out-rebounding Xavier 41-24.
- UConn held a 46-20 advantage in points in the paint, a 17-3 edge in fast break points, and a 30-18 margin in bench scoring.
Milestones and Momentum
Alex Karaban continues to climb the UConn record books. With 1,660 career points, he now sits 14th all-time, just behind Cliff Robinson (1,664) and Wes Bialosuknia (1,673).
His 133rd career start puts him two shy of Jake Voskuhl’s program record, and his 134th game played inches him closer to Shabazz Napier’s all-time mark of 143. Karaban’s 113 career wins are also within striking distance of the program record (115), held by former teammate Samson Johnson.
Jayden Ross, who struggled early in conference play, has found his rhythm - he’s now hit five of his last six threes after starting 1-for-11 in league games. And Demary Jr.? He’s been lights out from deep in BIG EAST play, knocking down 56.8 percent of his threes (21-of-37).
What’s Next
With the win, UConn improves to 7-0 at PeoplesBank Arena this season and 9-5 all-time against Xavier, having won six of the last seven in the series. More importantly, the Huskies are building serious momentum as March creeps closer. This team isn’t just winning - they’re dominating, and doing it with depth, discipline, and a brand of basketball that looks built for a deep postseason run.
If this version of UConn keeps showing up, the rest of the BIG EAST - and the nation - better be ready.