The No. 9 UConn men’s basketball team suffered a tough 68-66 loss to Villanova after erasing a double-digit second-half deficit. Solo Ball led the Huskies with 16 points, and Jaylin Stewart added 14. Hassa Diarra and Alex Karaban also scored in double figures. Despite shooting 54%, UConn was hindered by 13 turnovers. Eric Dixon led Villanova with 23 points, while Wooga Poplar added 18.
The game saw multiple lead changes and ties in the first half, with Villanova taking a 32-25 lead at halftime. UConn clawed back in the second half, taking their first lead at 57-55 with 8:38 to play. However, Villanova regained the lead and ultimately secured the win.
UConn’s performance included solid shooting and excellent ball movement, with Diarra leading all players with nine assists. The team struggled at the free-throw line, only attempting four compared to Villanova’s 11-for-11. UConn also dominated the glass, outrebounding Villanova 32-23.
This loss ended UConn’s eight-game winning streak and was their first in five BIG EAST games. The team’s record against Villanova now stands at 36-40, with a 3-1 record in true road games this season. The Huskies will look to bounce back when they face Georgetown on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. on FOX.
Source
Photo credit uconnhuskies.com