Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R. I. – The UConn men's basketball team (20-9, 12-6 BIG EAST) took care of business with a near-wire-to-wire win, topping Providence by a score of 75-63 on Saturday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. Tarris Reed Jr. had a career day to spur the Huskies, setting new personal bests across the board with 24 points, 18 rebounds and six blocked shots.

UConn took its first lead of the day at 16:18 and went ahead ahead at 20-18 midway through the first half – a lead they would not relent the rest of the way. UConn shot 53.8 percent from the field on the day and led by eight at the half before going up as many as 17 in a runaway second frame. Hassan Diarra was the straw that stirred the drink for the potent UConn offense, dishing out 10 assists on the day.

Reed Jr. checked into the game in its first minute and dominated from there, going 10-of-13 from the floor to score his career-high 24 points. Alex Karaban had a big day for the Huskies and scored 17 points with a steal and five rebounds. Also atop the scoresheet for were Solo Ball and Liam McNeeley, who scored 14 piece.  Jayden Pierre was the lone friar in double-figures with 10 points.

How it Happened

The Friars scored the first four points of the contest before back-to-back 3-pointers from Ball gave the Huskies an 8-7 lead ahead of the game's first stoppage. Later in the frame a run of six-straight points from Reed Jr., including a block and run-out slam, gave Connecticut a 14-11 edge and prompted a PC timeout at 12:59 of the second.

The Friars briefly pulled even at 18-all and the sides settled in midway through the frame. At 6:11 of the first a Reed Jr. steal lead to an easy finish inside for the big man and UConn took its largest lead of the half at 28-22. A Karaban 3-pointer at 1:09 gave the Huskies a nine-point edge and they took a 41-33 lead to the half when the captain beat the halftime buzzer with a tear drop floater. Reed Jr. finished his monster opening period with 15 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.

Reed Jr. kept it going early in the second with a three-point play on UConn's first trip before a pair of free throws to give the Huskies their largest lead at 46-33. Minutes later, a Diarra 3-pointer with the shot clock expiring and a graceful transition finish from Reed Jr. forced a PC timeout at 14:38 and UConn leading 51-38.

Midway through the second PC got back within single-digits, cutting the margin to 56-48 ahead of a UConn timeout at 10:27 of the frame. Karaban connected after the stop to make it a double-digit lead again, and a Ball 3-pointer before a Karaban put-back and-one made it 64-52 before  the media timeout with 7:22 to go.

Overall it was an 8-0 UConn run to give the Huskies their largest lead of the day at 15 with under six to play. At 4:18, Karaban drilled a straight-on triple and made it 72-56 to put the contest effectively out of reach. From there all that was the final as Connecticut but a bow on the 12-point win.

Inside The Numbers

• The Huskies finished 28-of-52 (53.8 percent) from the floor and were 9-of-20 (45.0 percent) from 3-point range while holding PC to 20-of-50 (40.0) and 8-of-20 (40.0)
  • UConn shot a blistering 61.5 percent (16-26) in the first half
  • Connecticut dominated the paint, out-scoring PC 36-22 inside
• UConn lost the turnover battle, 11-7, but turned seven PC miscues into a 14-6 edge in points off turnovers
• Connecticut finished with a 7-2 edge in blocked shots
  • Reed Jr. led the way with his career-high six swats and Jaylin Stewart had one
  • UConn came into the day leading the nation with 6.6 blocks per game
• The Huskies finished +9 on the glass, bolstered by Reed Jr. grabbing five offensive rebounds and 13 defensive caroms to finish with 18 boards

News and Notes

• UConn is now 51-31 all-time against Providence, sweeping the regular season series for the second-straight year
• The Huskies finish their regular season road slate with a 7-4 away record
• The double-double for Reed Jr. was his eighth of the season, 11^th of his career and second in a row
  • It was also his third '20 and 10' double-double this season
  • Reed Jr. set his career-high of 24 points, surpassing his previous high of 22 set earlier this season vs. Memphis on Nov. 25
  • He also finished with a career-best 18 rebounds, topping his previous high mark of 15 set twice in his career
  • Reed Jr.'s 18 rebounds were most for a UConn player since Adama Sanogo matched the mark vs. St. John's on Jan. 12, 2022
  • The 18 caroms also mark the fifth-most for a Husky ever in a BIG EAST game
• McNeeley has scored in double-figures in all seven games since his return from injury on Feb. 7 and is averaging 18.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in that span
• With his 17 points Karaban sits at 1,267 in his career- tying Denham Brown for 35^th place in Connecticut history
• Karaban also hit a pair of 3-pointers to give him 202 career, passing Rodney Purvis for eighth in UConn history
• Ball has at least three 3-pointers in a game 20 times this season

Up Next

The Huskies are home for their final two games of the regular season, both at Gampel Pavilion. First up is No.