UConn Men’s Basketball Dominates Boston College 71-52 in Hall of Fame Exhibition

Alex Karaban records double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds as No. 4 Huskies showcase defensive dominance in preseason tune-up

UNCASVILLE, CT – The No. 4 UConn Huskies men’s basketball team delivered a commanding defensive performance on Monday night, defeating the Boston College Eagles 71-52 in the Hall of Fame Exhibition at Mohegan Sun Arena. Junior forward Alex Karaban led the way with a double-double performance of 17 points and 11 rebounds, while the Huskies’ suffocating defense forced 20 turnovers and held BC to just 31.9% shooting from the field.

The victory marked an impressive preseason statement for head coach Dan Hurley’s squad as they prepare for another championship run following back-to-back national titles.

Karaban Leads Balanced Attack

Alex Karaban showcased why he’s one of the most complete players in college basketball, dominating on both ends of the floor. The 6-foot-8 forward shot 6-of-16 from the field, including 3-of-10 from three-point range, while adding two blocks and four assists to his stat line.

“Karaban finished with a double-double and grabbed a would-be-career-high-tying 11 rebounds,” according to the official game notes. His presence in the paint and ability to stretch the floor proved crucial in UConn’s balanced offensive attack.

Solo Ball and Braylon Mullins each contributed 12 points, with Ball adding two assists and Mullins providing energy off the bench. Malachi Smith orchestrated the offense beautifully, dishing out a team-high five assists to go along with seven points, while Eric Reibe added eight points and six rebounds in a solid all-around performance.

Defensive Dominance Defines Victory

The Huskies’ defensive intensity set the tone from the opening tip. UConn forced six Boston College turnovers in the first six minutes alone, establishing an aggressive defensive identity that would carry throughout the contest.

Connecticut’s defense was relentless, creating 20 turnovers that translated into a staggering 27-2 advantage in points off turnovers. The Huskies held BC to just two assists on 15 field goals, effectively disrupting the Eagles’ offensive flow and forcing contested shots throughout the night.

“The Huskies finished with 20 assists on 26 field goals and had 12 helpers on 14 makes in the first half,” demonstrating the team’s unselfish ball movement and offensive chemistry despite the exhibition setting.

UConn also dominated the paint, outscoring Boston College 36-20 in the restricted area while maintaining a 13-9 advantage in second-chance points.

First Half: Building the Foundation

The Huskies came out aggressively, scoring the game’s first basket and never trailing in the opening period. A second-chance three-pointer from Malachi Smith at 14:35 sparked a run that included a fast-break dunk from Jaylin Stewart and a driving layup from Solo Ball at 12:52, pushing the lead to 12-6.

Back-to-back buckets from Karaban extended the advantage to double digits for the first time, prompting a Boston College timeout with 8:39 remaining in the half and UConn holding a commanding 21-10 lead.

The Huskies continued to pour it on, with consecutive three-pointers from Ball and Karaban pushing the lead to its largest of the first half at 32-16 with 3:40 on the clock.

Boston College mounted a late 9-0 run to trim the deficit, but UConn still took a comfortable 35-27 lead into halftime despite shooting just 5-of-21 (23.8%) from three-point range in the opening stanza.

Second Half: Weathering the Storm

The Eagles opened the second half with renewed energy, going on an 11-2 run to take their first and only lead of the game at 38-37 just five minutes into the frame. The brief momentum shift tested UConn’s resolve.

The Huskies responded emphatically. At 11:59, Dwayne Koroma converted a put-back layup to retake the lead, followed by a Karaban three-pointer ahead of a timeout at 11:24 with UConn up 44-40.

Those buckets ignited a devastating 13-0 UConn run over four minutes of game time, transforming a three-point deficit into a commanding 50-40 lead midway through the half. The run showcased everything that makes UConn dangerous: defensive stops, transition opportunities, and timely shooting.

At 6:58 of the second half, Eric Reibe connected on a three-point play to extend what had become a 20-3 run, pushing the lead to 55-43. Karaban drilled another three-pointer a minute later to give UConn its largest lead of the frame at 60-45 with 5:30 remaining.

From there, the outcome was never in doubt. Mullins provided the exclamation point with five straight points in the final minute—a three-pointer and a thunderous dunk—to set the final margin at 19 points.

Hand Leads Eagles’ Effort

Despite the loss, Boston College guard Donald Hand Jr. put together an impressive individual performance, leading all scorers with 23 points on 5-of-16 shooting. Hand also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and went 12-of-18 from the free-throw line, showing his ability to get to the basket and draw fouls.

Fred Payne added 12 points for the Eagles, while Marko Radunovic and Boden Kapke contributed four and six points, respectively. However, BC’s offensive struggles were evident, as the team shot just 31.9% from the field and a dismal 17.6% from three-point range (3-of-17).

The Eagles’ inability to take care of the basketball proved costly, as their 20 turnovers led to 27 UConn points and consistently disrupted any offensive rhythm.

Huskies News:

• Big East Media Day: Pitino’s St. John’s Reloaded, UConn Women Eye Repeat, Conference Poised for Competitive Season
• UConn Women’s Basketball Dominates Boston College 84-67 in Hall of Fame Exhibition

Key Stats and Takeaways

Shooting Efficiency:

• UConn: 26-of-69 (37.7%) FG, 8-of-34 (23.5%) 3PT, 11-of-11 (100%) FT
• Boston College: 15-of-47 (31.9%) FG, 3-of-17 (17.6%) 3PT, 19-of-30 (63.3%) FT

Turnover Battle:

• UConn forced 20 turnovers and committed just 6, creating a +14 turnover margin
• The Huskies outscored BC 19-0 off turnovers in the first half alone
• Connecticut held a 27-2 advantage in points off turnovers for the game

Ball Movement:

• UConn finished with 20 assists on 26 field goals (76.9% assisted rate)
• The Huskies had 12 assists on 14 makes in the first half
• BC managed just 2 total assists on 15 field goals

Paint Presence:

• UConn dominated inside with a 36-20 edge in points in the paint
• The Huskies also held a 13-9 advantage in second-chance points

Newcomers Make Impressive Debuts

Monday night marked the unofficial UConn debuts of several key additions to the roster, including Malachi Smith, Braylon Mullins, Eric Reibe, Dwayne Koroma, Alec Millender, Jacob Furphy, Rrezon Elezaj, Uroš Paunović, and Jacob Ross.

Jayden Ross and Dwayne Koroma posted team-highs in plus/minus, showcasing their immediate impact on winning basketball.

Ross scored four points, grabbed four rebounds, nabbed two steals, and blocked a shot in 17 minutes of action to finish an impressive +26. His defensive versatility and energy were evident throughout his time on the court.

Koroma made his presence felt with five rebounds, two assists, and a steal, finishing +19 in just 12 minutes of action. His ability to impact the game without dominating the ball bodes well for his role in the rotation.

Historical Context

If the exhibition game counted toward official records, UConn would have improved to 56-35 against Boston College all-time and an impressive 29-3 against the Eagles since March 1988. The Huskies’ dominance in this series reflects their consistent excellence over multiple decades.

The game was played in front of 6,456 fans at Mohegan Sun Arena, with officials Nathan Ferrell, Mike Palau, and Evon Burroughs overseeing a cleanly played contest that lasted 2 hours and 4 minutes.

Looking Ahead

The Huskies have one more exhibition game before opening the 2025-26 regular season. UConn will face Michigan State in a marquee showdown at 7:30 p.m. on October 28 at PeoplesBank Arena.

The matchup against the Spartans will provide another high-level test for Hurley’s squad as they fine-tune rotations and chemistry ahead of what promises to be another championship-caliber season.

With a suffocating defense, balanced scoring, and impressive depth on display against Boston College, the No. 4 Huskies sent a clear message: they’re ready to defend their back-to-back national championships and chase a historic three-peat.

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