No. 11 UConn pulled out a thrilling 94-89 overtime victory against Xavier in the Big East opener for both teams. Alex Karaban’s 20 points, including seven in OT, led the Huskies to the win, with Solo Ball adding 22 points and Tarris Reed Jr. contributing 20 points and 13 rebounds. Xavier’s Ryan Conwell had 23 points and Dante Maddox Jr. finished with 22 points. Both teams were missing key players, with Xavier’s Zach Freemantle sidelined indefinitely and UConn without Samson Johnson due to concussion protocol.
Despite being outscored in 3-pointers, UConn secured the win by dominating in the paint, outscoring Xavier 50-28 in that area. The Huskies were successful despite facing a tough schedule, with this game being the second of three straight matchups against ranked teams for Xavier.
Looking ahead, Xavier will host No. 9 Marquette on Saturday, while UConn will face Butler on the road. This victory gives UConn momentum as they head into conference play and showcases their ability to adapt and succeed even when missing key players. The thrilling overtime win is sure to boost the Huskies’ confidence as they continue their season in pursuit of a successful run in the Big East.
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