No. 3 Huskies Dominate Xavier For 18th Straight Win

Tuesday, February 3

Hartford, Conn.

7 p.m.

University of Connecticut

22-1,12-0Big East

Xavier

12-11,4-8Big East

Xavier

UConn

2/3/2026 10:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score BOX SCORE (PDF)

HARTFORD – The No. 3 UConn men's basketball team (22-1, 12-0 BIG EAST) opened with a 10-0 'kill shot' and never looked back in a 92-60 rout over Xavier (12-11, 4-8 BIG EAST) on Tuesday night at PeoplesBank Arena. The Huskies shot a scorching 56.7 percent from the field in the dominant performance. The win was UConn's 18^th-straight, the third-longest single season win streak in program history, and 12^th in a row to start BIG EAST play which is the second-best in UConn history.

Five Huskies scored in double-figures and seven had at least nine points in a balanced offensive effort. Silas Demary Jr. led all players with 17 points and eight assists, also grabbing four rebounds and pair of steals. The center tandem of Tarris Reed Jr. and Eric Reibe had 14 points apiece and combined for 15 rebounds, collectively shooting 12-of-13 from the field. Braylon Mullins scored 13 points, all in the first half, and Jayden Ross had 11 and hit a trio of 3-pointers in 15 minutes off the bench. Solo Ball and Alex Karaban each scored nine points, with Karaban notching six rebounds and six assists as well.

UConn had its best shooting day since Nov. 7 and its best in BIG EAST play this season, one game after setting a new BIG EAST high mark. The Huskies recorded 26 assists, one off a season-high, and hit double-digit 3-pointers for the second-straight outing. UConn's 12-0 start to BIG EAST play is second only to the league-record 14-0 open to the 1995-96 season for best in school history.

How it Happened

The Huskies started hot, with Mullins scoring the first six points of the contest and eight total in a game-opening 10-0 run, which prompted a Xavier timeout less than three minutes into regulation. UConn continued to build the lead early in the first and back-to-back 3-pointers from Demary Jr. put Connecticut up 22-6 at 11:57 of the opening frame.

Midway through the first UConn pushed its lead over 20 with a 7-0 run, capped by a Reed Jr. steal and lay-in at 10:05 to go up 29-8. Mullins knocked down his second 3-pointer of the day at 6:26 to cap an 8-2 mini-run and force another XU timeout with the Huskies up 37-15.

Another 7-0 run to close the first half helped UConn build a 50-22 halftime. The Huskies shot a blistering 61.3 percent from the floor and dished out 17 assists in the opening 20, while holding Xavier to 28.6 percent and allowing a single assist.

The Huskies came out hot once again to start the second half, making five of six from the field and swelling the lead to 34 five minutes into the frame. UConn would go up as many as 38 late in the half and never allowed Xavier closer than 24, leading by 30+ for the final eight minutes of the contest.

Inside the Numbers

UConn was 34-of-60 (56.7 percent) from the field, 10-of-27 (37.0 percent) from 3-point range and 14-of-18 (77.8 percent) from the foul line
- Conversely, the Huskies held the Musketeers to 36.7 percent (18-49) from the field and 35.3 percent (6-17) from downtown for the game
- UConn shot 61.3 percent from the field and 53.8 percent from three in the first half, while holding XU to 28.6 and 16.7 percent marks
- It marked the seventh time this season UConn has hit double-digit 3-pointers and the third-straight game
UConn assisted on 26 of 34 field goals
- It marked the eighth time this season the Huskies have hit 20 assists and the fourth time in BIG EAST play
- Connecticut's 17 assists in the first half tied the season-high for half, set on Nov. 7 against UMass Lowell
- The 26 assists match the total at Xavier on Dec. 31 and are one shy of the season-best 27 against UML
The Huskies were dominant on the glass, out-rebounding the Musketeers 41-24
Reed Jr. and Reibe combined for 28 points and 15 rebounds while shooting 12-of-13 (92.3 percent) from the field
Connecticut finished with a 46-20 edge in points in the paint, a 17-3 advantage in fast break points and a 30-18 lead in bench scoring

News and Notes

UConn is 9-5 all-time against Xavier and has won six of seven in the series
Karaban continued his ascent in the UConn record books
- He now has 1,660 career points and holds at 14^th in program history, closely trailing Cliff Robinson (1,664, 13^th) and Wes Bialosuknia (1,673, 12^th)
- The start was the 133^rd of his career, two shy of Jake Voskuhl's program record of 135
- It was Karaban's 134^th overall game, creeping closer to Shabazz Napier's UConn record of 143
- The win was No. 113 for Karaban in a UConn uniform, two shy of his former teammate Samson Johnson's program record of 115
Over his last two games Ross has hit 5-of-6 from three after starting 1-for-11 in league
In conference play, Demary Jr. is shooting 56.8 percent (21-of-37) from 3-point range
The Huskies are 7-0 at PeoplesBank Arena this season and have won their last 26 games in Hartford
UConn's 18-game single-season winning streak trails only a 19-game streak in 1998-99 and a 23-game run in 1995-96 for best in program history