Click HERE to watch postgame presser.
UNCASVILLE — UConn men’s basketball opened its exhibition slate against Boston College at Mohegan Sun, winning 71-52 as numerous Huskies made their debut against a live opponent.
Alex Karaban led the victors with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Solo Ball and Braylon Mullins added 12 points each.
UConn lost the battle on the glass and shot 38 percent from the field on the night, but won on the strength of 20 forced turnovers and 27 points off turnovers as the Eagles hit just 32 percent of their shots.
Projected starters Tarris Reed Jr. and Silas Demary Jr. sat with minor injuries, allowing Eric Reibe and Malachi Smith into the starting lineup along with freshman Braylon Mullins and returners Alex Karaban and Solo Ball.
Reibe and Smith helped UConn get off to a good start as the team started off cold from the field. Eight BC turnovers in the first 12 minutes and five points from Jaylin Stewart off the bench helped the Huskies push the lead to 21-10 by the first half U-8 time-out.
The Huskies kept their separation even as they rotated fairly deep into the bench. Dwayne Koroma was the first bench player in, right before Stewart and Jayden Ross. Karaban and Ball hit threes to get the Huskies rolling.
Five Huskies played off the bench in the first half, with Alec Millender and Jacob Furphy joining the aforementioned three. Dan Hurley’s squad went into the locker room up 35-27 after a late 9-0 run from the Eagles.
BC opened the second half with fire as UConn’s turnovers and misses were piling up. The Eagles took a lead for 2:44 before the Huskies roared back on the strength of defense and depth.
Despite starting the second half 1-of-11 from the field, UConn regained the lead after a Smith lay-up and a Koroma jumper. Then a Karaban three pushed it back up to four as a 13-0 run unfolded to put them back in control.
UConn leaned on Smith, Karaban, and Ball to close out the game. Ball and Karaban were the only ones to play over 30 minutes, while Smith, Reibe, and Stewart also played over 20 minutes. Ross, Mullins, Millender, and Koroma logged the next most minutes after those six.
Up next, the Huskies host Michigan State for their second exhibition. That game will take place on Tuesday, October 28th, from the newly-renamed PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. and it will be televised on WFSB or UConn+ for $7.99.
Box Score:
Team Stats:
