UConn survived. Honestly, that’s the best way to describe what happened Tuesday night at the Prudential Center. If you’re looking for the quick score of the UConn game, the No. 3 Huskies walked away with a 69-64 victory over No. 25 Seton Hall. But man, the final score doesn't even begin to tell the story of how close Dan Hurley's squad came to a total collapse in Newark.
It was a tale of two halves. Actually, it was a tale of 35 minutes of dominance followed by five minutes of pure, unadulterated chaos. UConn (17-1, 7-0 Big East) looked like the best team in the country for most of the night. They jumped out to an 18-point lead early in the second half. You probably thought it was over. I thought it was over. The Pirates looked dead in the water.
Score of the UConn Game: The Numbers That Mattered
So, how did a 42-24 blowout turn into a one-point game in the final minute?
Basically, UConn’s offense went into a deep freeze. The Huskies didn't make a single field goal for the final 5:40 of the game. That’s an eternity in college basketball. Meanwhile, Seton Hall—who had been shooting like they were wearing blindfolds for most of the night—suddenly couldn't miss. Mike Williams III hit a massive three-pointer with 48 seconds left to cut the lead to 65-64. The Rock was absolutely shaking.
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Tarris Reed Jr. was the steady hand for UConn. He finished with 21 points and basically carried the interior scoring while the perimeter shooters struggled. On the other side, Seton Hall’s Adam "Budd" Clark and Williams kept chipping away at that lead. The Pirates’ defense, which Shaheen Holloway has turned into a literal brick wall this season, forced UConn into some really ugly possessions late.
UConn hasn't won at Seton Hall in four years. Think about that. Even with the national titles, the Prudential Center has been a house of horrors for this program. Breaking that streak took every bit of "experienced team" energy they had. Silas Demary Jr. eventually stepped up to the free-throw line and sank four clutch shots in the final 29 seconds to ice it.
Why the Huskies Almost Lost It
It’s easy to look at the score of the UConn game and say "a win is a win," but Hurley was visibly frustrated on the sidelines. The Huskies shot 51% from the floor overall, which is great, but they were a measly 3-of-17 from beyond the arc.
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- The Three-Point Drought: You can’t survive many Big East road games shooting 17% from deep.
- Turnovers: When Seton Hall started their 17-0 run, UConn looked rattled. They stopped moving the ball and started playing "not to lose."
- The Atmosphere: The Pirates' crowd is notoriously loud. Once the lead hit single digits, the momentum shift was tangible.
Alex Karaban had a quiet but historic night, too. He started his 128th game, tying him for second all-time in UConn history with Taliek Brown. He’s now just seven games behind Jake Voskuhl for the record. He finished with 13 points, moving into 18th place on the school's all-time scoring list.
What’s Next for UConn?
The Huskies are now 7-0 in Big East play for the first time since the 1998-99 season. That’s a pretty big deal. But they can’t afford these scoring droughts. They head to Georgetown next on Saturday, January 17th.
If you're betting on this team, keep an eye on their free-throw shooting. It literally saved them Tuesday night. They finished 16-of-21 from the stripe, while the Pirates only got to the line 13 times. That’s the difference between a gritty road win and a devastating upset.
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The Women’s Side: Still Dominant
Just to keep you updated if you were looking for the other score of the UConn game—the women’s team is still incinerating everyone in their path. Their last outing was a 95-54 demolition of Creighton on Sunday. Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd are playing like they’re from another planet. They play Villanova tomorrow, January 15th, and it’s likely going to be more of the same.
Geno Auriemma’s squad is currently sitting at 17-0 and hasn't really been tested since early December. While the men are grinding out these ugly Big East battles, the women are making everyone else look like they're playing in slow motion.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
- Watch the Georgetown Spread: UConn is likely to be a heavy favorite on Saturday. Given their recent tendency to let teams back into games, the "under" might be a safer play if the total is high.
- Karaban Record Watch: Keep an eye on the January 31st game against Creighton. That’s roughly when Karaban should be breaking the all-time starts record.
- Prudential Center Curse: It’s officially broken. If you were worried about the Huskies' mental toughness on the road, this game proved they can take a punch and still finish.
The Huskies are still the team to beat in the Big East, but Tuesday showed they aren't invincible. They’ll need more than just "surviving" when the tournament rolls around in March.
Keep a close eye on the injury report for the Georgetown game. If Hurley decides to rest any of the starters after such a physical battle in Newark, the bench depth—led by Liam McNeeley—will need to show more than they did against the Pirates.