The UConn men picked up Friday night right where the women had left off: build a cushion, watch Ohio State make it uncomfortable, then take control again after halftime.
At PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Conn., the No. 4 Huskies beat the Buckeyes 84-68 to move to 4-0, and the script felt almost identical to the one the No.
4 UConn women used a night earlier in Columbus. The women beat No.
17 Ohio State 87-55 on Thursday despite Sarah Strong playing only eight minutes in the opening half. The men got a similar scare with Silas Demary limited to seven first-half minutes because of foul trouble.
UConn looked in command late in the first half. With 4:19 left before the break, freshman forward Egor Amosov knocked down a 3-pointer to push the Huskies ahead 41-27. Ohio State answered with a 13-1 run to close the half, trimming the margin to two by halftime.
Once Demary returned after the break, UConn steadied itself. He finished with 10 points and nine rebounds, and the rest of the lineup did plenty of damage around him.
Braylon Mullins led the way with 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting and hit five 3-pointers. Na’jai Hines added 20 points, going 7-of-8 from the field and 6-of-7 at the line. Freshman Colben Landrew, starting in place of the injured Nik Khamenia, scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
The Huskies shot 61.2% overall, making 30 of 48 attempts, while holding Ohio State to 49% shooting, 24 of 49.
Oskar Giltay led UConn with six rebounds, and Jayden Ross finished with three steals. For the Buckeyes, Jimmie Williams scored 17 points and John Mobley Jr. added 16.
There was one tense moment for UConn when Mullins limped off with what appeared to be a left knee injury. He made his way to the exercise bike on the sideline and returned a few minutes later without an obvious limp. In a postgame television interview, Mullins said he didn’t want to disclose any details and would be working with the training staff.
That was a welcome sight for the Huskies, especially with Khamenia already sidelined and possibly out for as long as two months.
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UConn Showed Off A Dangerous Strength Even With Rotation Questions
UConn kept rolling with an 84-68 win over Ohio State at PeoplesBank Arena, and the latest victory offered another reminder of how dangerous this group can be even while the rotation is still taking shape. Braylon Mullins sparked the offense with 22 points and five 3-pointers, while Silas Demary Jr. and Najai Hines helped steady things after halftime as the Huskies moved to 4-0.
The lineup picture was a little different again, with freshman Colben Landrew stepping into the starting five and delivering 12 points in his first career regular-season start. For UConn, that kind of production matters because it suggests the Huskies are finding answers beyond the usual names, even as the staff continues to sort out who fits where and how deep this group can go. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Showed Something Bigger Than A 4-0 Start Against Ohio State
UConns 84-68 win over Ohio State in Hartford did more than keep the Huskies unbeaten at 4-0. It showed a team getting real production from multiple places, with Braylon Mullins leading the way on 22 points, Najai Hines adding 20 and Silas Demary Jr. filling the box score with 10 points and nine assists. Ohio State had answers of its own from Jimmie Williams and John Mobley Jr., but UConns balance and pace were enough to separate.
What stood out most was how the Huskies handled the game when it started to tighten. Even with key contributors having to navigate foul trouble in the first half, UConn found enough depth and poise to keep control, and the second half brought the kind of response that can matter later in the season. For a team still early in its schedule, this was the sort of win that says a hot start is nice, but there may be something sturdier underneath it. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Faces A Real Test Against JMU In Two Crucial Areas
Saturdays matchup at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field carries a little more weight than a typical November date, with James Madison coming in for a meeting that should tell UConn plenty about where it stands. The Huskies have spent the week getting ready for a game that comes with the usual layers of records, player numbers and broadcast attention, but also the kind of familiar opponent history that can make a midseason test feel bigger than it looks on paper.
Jason Candle said UConn has been preparing for the Dukes with the same focus it would bring to any important conference-style challenge, and the details around James Madison only sharpen the intrigue. The injury picture on the Dukes side adds another wrinkle, and with the series history between the programs in the background, this one has the feel of a game where a few key matchups could decide whether UConn leaves with a statement or another reminder of how thin the margin can be. [Read more 🡒]