HARTFORD - UConn opened its season Monday night the way a preseason No. 4 team is supposed to, overwhelming Gardner-Webb 86-46 at PeoplesBank Arena and getting a big lift from a pair of freshmen.
Braylon Mullins and Nik Khamenia combined for 34 points as the Huskies controlled the game from the start and never let the Runnin’ Bulldogs get comfortable. For Dan Hurley, it was also a milestone night: the victory was the 200th of his UConn tenure as he begins his ninth season in charge.
With a national championship rematch against Michigan coming four days later, Hurley spent much of the night sorting through lineup combinations while UConn steadily pulled away. The Huskies were able to use the second half to keep building separation and testing different looks.
Mullins was a major reason the game tilted so quickly. In his second game action since returning from an undisclosed injury, he came out attacking, scoring on two early transition buckets, including a two-handed dunk after a steal in the backcourt.
He later buried his first 3-pointer of the season to push UConn ahead 16-6 before the game was seven minutes old. Mullins finished with 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting and hit four 3-pointers.
Khamenia kept the offense moving and continued to fit seamlessly into the system, finishing with 14 points, six rebounds and three assists. He also helped spark one of the game’s prettier sequences in the second half, feeding Jayden Ross for an alley-oop after a no-look pass before knocking down a 3-pointer of his own.
UConn got production all over the floor. Silas Demary Jr. didn’t need many shots to make an impact, finishing with six points, eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals while taking only three field-goal attempts. Colben Landrew added 11 points, five rebounds and three assists, and Na’jai Hines delivered a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double with three blocks in 22 minutes.
The Huskies’ defense set the tone early and never backed off. They forced 17 turnovers, held Gardner-Webb to 25.5% shooting and outscored the visitors 21-3 in transition. UConn also started with an 8-0 burst, capped by a two-handed putback dunk from Ross, who finished with seven points.
There were still some rough edges. The Huskies went just 15-for-24 at the foul line, continuing a familiar issue, and they shot 4-for-15 from 3-point range in the first half. Gardner-Webb also took advantage of five first-half fouls and made all eight of its free throws, trimming the margin to 19 at halftime.
Even with the missed free throws, UConn’s pace and pressure kept the game under control. The Huskies shot 51.7% from the field overall and improved to 54.8% after halftime, while cutting down on turnovers and opening the lead to as many as 37 points. Landrew punctuated the night with a steal and slam in the final six minutes.
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UConns Opener Offered One Early Sign Fans Will Love
The season opener gave UConn plenty to like beyond the final score, as the Huskies handled Gardner-Webb with a comfortable 86-46 win and got an early reminder of why this roster has drawn so much attention. Dan Hurley also picked up a milestone victory in the process, continuing a run that has made his tenure in Storrs one of the most successful in program history.
What stood out most, though, was the way several newcomers fit in right away. Braylon Mullins and Nik Khamenia made their presence felt, while freshmen Colben Landrew and Junior County also turned in encouraging debuts, the kind of opening-night contributions that can matter later in the year. For a team with bigger goals ahead, seeing that kind of early depth and energy was a promising sign. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Rolled In The Opener But Hurley Already Sees A Problem
UConn opened the season the way a defending power is supposed to, rolling past Gardner-Webb 86-46 and getting a big night from Braylon Mullins, who led the way with 20 points. Nik Khamenia and Najai Hines also chipped in as the Huskies controlled the game from the start, giving Dan Hurley a comfortable debut to build on as the schedule quickly turns more demanding.
Hurley still had enough to nitpick afterward, which is usually the sign of a coach who expects more than a lopsided opener can offer. The next test comes against Michigan, and with the competition about to rise, UConn will need to sharpen the details and settle into a cleaner rhythm before the first real measuring-stick game arrives. [Read more 🡒]
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There was more movement on the same front, too, as Serbian shooting guard Matija Luki made a campus visit. For a UConn program that has increasingly leaned into global recruiting, the combination of a commitment and a visit in the same stretch underscores how active the staff is staying in building out the next wave, even with the 2027 class still well ahead on the calendar. [Read more 🡒]