Storrs, CT – The fifth-ranked UConn Huskies (8-1) extended their winning streak to four games with a commanding 83-59 victory over East Texas A&M (4-4) on Friday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 10,244 at Gampel Pavilion.

The Huskies shot a blistering 52.3 percent from the floor, including a white-hot 61.3 percent in the second half, as four players reached double figures in UConn’s penultimate home non-conference game and final non-league contest of the year at Gampel.

Ball Leads Balanced Attack

Sophomore guard Solo Ball paced the Huskies with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including 2-of-5 from three-point range. Ball was efficient and aggressive, attacking the rim and knocking down timely perimeter shots to keep the Lions at bay.

Eric Reibe continued his impressive stretch of spot starts, recording 13 points, six rebounds, and three blocks in 26 minutes. The junior center was a perfect 5-of-9 from the field and controlled the paint on both ends, providing the interior presence UConn needed.

Senior forward Alex Karaban added 12 points and six rebounds, moving within two points of Kevin Freeman (1,476) for 21st place on UConn’s all-time scoring list. Karaban now has 1,474 career points and has been part of a 100-23 overall record during his UConn career.

Freshman Braylon Mullins provided a spark off the bench with 10 points in 16 minutes, including a crucial seven-point run in the second half that helped UConn extend its lead to 24 points.

Solid All-Around Performances

Jaylin Stewart turned in a well-rounded game with nine points, seven rebounds, and two assists, while Silas Demary Jr. contributed eight points, five rebounds, and five assists. Demary Jr. also recorded a game-high three steals, showcasing his defensive intensity.

Jayden Ross added six points off the bench and was a team-best plus-21. Malachi Smith chipped in seven points and two assists. Smith is now just 10 assists away from 500 for his career.

Huskies Take Control Early

UConn seized control early, with the score tied 8-8 before Reibe scored back-to-back buckets that sparked a 9-0 run, giving the Huskies a 17-8 lead they would never relinquish.

Jayden Ross hit a three-pointer at 11:07 of the first half that extended UConn’s lead to 20-11, and the Huskies continued to build momentum. A Demary Jr. steal led to a thunderous one-handed dunk by Ball at 7:37, pushing the lead to 26-15.

The Lions managed to pull within seven in the final minute of the first half, but a Karaban tip-in as time expired gave UConn a 38-27 halftime advantage.

Second-Half Surge

UConn came out firing in the second half, rattling off a 7-0 run capped by a Ball layup at 16:38 that made it 45-29. The Lions responded with back-to-back three-pointers to cut the deficit to 10 at 47-37, but UConn answered with authority.

At 13:27, Demary Jr. found Karaban inside for an easy bucket that triggered an East Texas A&M timeout with the Huskies holding a 51-37 lead. That basket was part of a prolonged 17-3 burst that gave UConn a commanding 64-40 lead with 8:59 to play.

Mullins capped the run with a three-pointer during a stretch of seven straight points from the freshman, and the Huskies cruised from there, never allowing the Lions within 20 the rest of the way.

Dominant Inside Presence

UConn held a staggering 58-22 edge in points in the paint, showcasing the Huskies’ size and physicality advantage. The Huskies were relentless, attacking the rim, with 29 of their 45 two-point attempts coming in the paint.

UConn also dominated the glass, out-rebounding East Texas A&M 39-27 and turning 12 offensive rebounds into a 12-4 advantage in second-chance points. The Huskies’ interior dominance was the story of the game.

Defensive Excellence

The Huskies held East Texas A&M to just 38.9 percent shooting from the floor (21-54) and 33.3 percent from three-point range (8-24). UConn forced 13 turnovers and converted them into 18 points, while the Lions managed just five points off UConn’s six turnovers.

UConn also held a 6-2 edge in steals, with Demary Jr.’s three swipes leading the way. The Huskies’ defensive intensity set the tone throughout the game.

Balanced Scoring, Efficient Offense

UConn finished with 17 assists on 34 field goals, demonstrating excellent ball movement and unselfish play. The Huskies committed just six turnovers, maintaining control of the tempo and executing head coach Dan Hurley’s game plan to perfection.

Despite shooting just 4-of-16 from three-point range (25.0 percent), UConn’s efficiency inside the arc more than made up for the perimeter struggles. The Huskies were 30-of-49 (61.2 percent) on two-point attempts.

Lions’ Effort Falls Short

East Texas A&M was led by Ronnie Harrison’s 15 points off the bench. Harrison was 6-of-12 from the floor and 1-of-5 from three-point range, providing a spark for the Lions in the second half.

Damian Garcia added 12 points and three assists, while Gianni Hunt contributed 11 points and seven rebounds. Josh Taylor chipped in nine points, but the Lions struggled to find a consistent offensive rhythm against UConn’s length and athleticism.

East Texas A&M was outscored 32-22 in the paint and 18-5 off turnovers, highlighting the Huskies’ dominance in the key statistical categories.

Hurley Praises Opponent’s Effort

Head coach Dan Hurley praised East Texas A&M’s effort and development under their young coach following the victory. The Lions played with intensity throughout the game, making UConn work for every basket in the first half.

“I just got a lot of respect for how hard those guys play and the growth in their program. I think that the coach is an excellent young coach. Those guys played incredibly hard and incredibly well,” Hurley said.

The UConn coach also gave credit to East Texas A&M’s roster, highlighting several key players who impressed him. “Garcia is a really good player. Harrison is a really good player. Hunt is a really good guard, a seventh-year player. I think they’re going to win a lot of games in their league.”

First-Half Offensive Struggles

Despite the comfortable final margin, Hurley was candid about UConn’s first-half offensive execution. The Huskies missed two dunks and took several ill-advised three-pointers that allowed East Texas A&M to stay within striking distance.

“The first half was a little frustrating offensively, missing two dunks, just taking some bad threes. Which you shouldn’t have to take versus their defense,” Hurley noted.

The coach emphasized the importance of getting through the game with Big East play looming on the horizon. With a quick turnaround and a challenging schedule ahead, the victory—while not perfect—accomplished the mission.

“With the quick turnaround and obviously the schedule that’s looming here with the last two non-conference games and Big East play starting, I thought it was just important to get through this last non-conference game,” Hurley explained.

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Team Depth Shines Through

One of the most encouraging aspects of the victory was the contributions from UConn’s deep roster. Multiple players stepped up to provide quality minutes, showcasing the team’s versatility and depth.

Hurley highlighted the team’s depth as a major strength, particularly praising Jayden Ross’s impact in his plus-21 performance. Ross’s ability to make winning plays without dominating the stat sheet exemplified the team-first mentality Hurley has cultivated.

“The strength of this team is the depth. It always has been, it always will be. Jayden Ross’s statistics—it’s a reason why he was a plus-21. The team was better when Jayden Ross was in the game,” Hurley said.

Mullins Finding His Role

On Braylon Mullins’ role off the bench, Hurley noted the freshman’s potential while managing expectations. Mullins has been working his way back into game shape and finding his rhythm within the team’s system.

The freshman’s seven-point burst in the second half demonstrated his ability to provide instant offense, but Hurley acknowledged that Mullins is still developing into the player he’ll become.

“I don’t know that that’s the role I necessarily envisioned for him. But like anything else, I think he’s still working his way back. Once he catches his rhythm, he’s going to be really hard to take off the court,” Hurley said.

Defense as Championship Foundation

Hurley emphasized the team’s defensive identity as the foundation for success, drawing on the program’s recent championship pedigree. The Huskies’ ability to win games with their defense has been a hallmark of their back-to-back national title runs.

The coach’s message was clear: elite defense is non-negotiable for championship contenders, and UConn’s ability to lock down opponents gives them a reliable foundation even when the offense struggles.

“That’s how you become bulletproof as a team—where you can win games in different fashions. The reason why we won back-to-back championships was because we had a defense that could sustain us on nights when our offense was up against another great defense,” Hurley said.

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Offensive Improvements on the Horizon

On the team’s offensive execution, Hurley expressed confidence that improvements are coming. The Huskies are close to putting together complete performances on both ends of the floor.

“I do think offensively things will come around. I think we’re close there. I think we’re not quite seeing it from an execution standpoint. You can’t do this without an elite-level defense, a top-five defense, a top-ten defense. You’re not winning anything,” Hurley said.

The coach also acknowledged the team’s versatility in winning games, emphasizing that championship teams must be able to adapt and win in multiple ways depending on the opponent and circumstances.

“You’ve got to be able to win games in a lot of different ways. You can win it with your defense. You can win it with your rebounding. You can win it by driving it and getting inside. You can win it with high-level three-point shooting,” Hurley added.

Reibe’s Strong Stretch Continues

Over his last five games, which have included four spot starts, Reibe is averaging 12.8 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 58.7 percent from the field. The junior has been a revelation for the Huskies, providing consistent production in the frontcourt.

Reibe’s three blocks on Friday night showcased his defensive versatility, and his ability to finish around the rim has been a key factor in UConn’s recent success.

Hurley’s Home Dominance

Head coach Dan Hurley improved to 55-9 at Gampel Pavilion and 98-18 overall at home during his UConn tenure. The Huskies are now 78-18 in non-league games under Hurley and an impressive 50-6 against non-conference foes since the start of the 2022-23 season.

UConn has now sold out 27 straight games at Gampel, a streak that began on December 1, 2022. The Huskies are 111-11 all-time against non-league opponents at Gampel and improved to 2-0 all-time against East Texas A&M.

Inside The Numbers

• UConn shot 52.3 percent (34-65) from the floor, 25.0 percent (4-16) from three, and 78.6 percent (11-14) from the free-throw line
• In the second half, UConn was 61.3 percent (19-31) from the field
• East Texas A&M shot 38.9 percent (21-54) from the floor, 33.3 percent (8-24) from three, and 75.0 percent (9-12) from the line
• UConn held a 58-22 edge in points in the paint
• The Huskies were +7 in turnover margin and outscored the Lions 18-5 off turnovers
• UConn out-rebounded ETAMU 39-27 and held a 12-4 advantage in second-chance points
• UConn finished with 17 assists on 34 field goals against just six turnovers
• Steals went 6-2 in favor of the Huskies, with Demary Jr. recording a game-high three
• UConn outscored ETAMU 27-23 in bench points
• Ball led all scorers with 14 points; Reibe added 13 points, six rebounds, and three blocks
• Karaban is now two points shy of Kevin Freeman (1,476) for 21st place on UConn’s all-time scoring list
• Malachi Smith is 10 assists away from 500 in his career
• UConn has won 27 straight home games dating back to December 1, 2022

Up Next: Jimmy V Classic at MSG

The Huskies hit the road for a marquee matchup on Tuesday night, traveling to Madison Square Garden to face No. 15 Florida in the Jimmy V Classic. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. on ESPN.

The game will be a significant test for UConn as they face a ranked opponent in one of college basketball’s most iconic venues. The Huskies will look to extend their winning streak to five and continue building momentum as they prepare for Big East play.

Game attendance: 10,244 (sellout)

Officials: Brian O’Connell, Greg Evans, Ed Corbett Jr.

Game duration: 1:48

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