HARTFORD, Conn. — Solo Ball achieved a personal milestone by scoring a career-best 23 points, leading the 19th-ranked UConn to an 80-78 victory over Butler in an overtime matchup on Tuesday evening.

Alex Karaban contributed significantly with 19 points, along with seven rebounds, six assists, and three blocks, helping the Huskies (14-5, 6-2 Big East) bounce back from their recent home defeat against Creighton. The reigning national champions have struggled, managing only two wins out of their last four games following an earlier eight-game winning streak.

Both Samson Johnson and Tarris Reed Jr. each chipped in with 14 points. Reed played a crucial role, providing UConn with an 80-76 advantage with a basket just 19.9 seconds before the conclusion of overtime, after Karaban had the ball taken from him while driving to the basket.

For Butler (8-11, 1-7), Jahmyl Telfort was the standout performer, netting 25 points. However, he had a chance to secure a win for the Bulldogs with two three-point attempts in the last three seconds that ultimately rimmed out, marking yet another missed opportunity against UConn.

Finley Bizback supported Butler’s efforts with 17 points, while Andre Screen contributed 13 points and gathered nine rebounds.

UConn built up a 15-point lead in the first half and headed into halftime ahead 39-31. The Bulldogs made a comeback in the final 6:50 of regulation, overcoming a nine-point shortfall to briefly take the lead. Yet, Karaban’s timely jumper with 1:43 remaining tied the game at 68, necessitating overtime.

Notable Points:
Butler remains winless against UConn, holding an 0-11 record in their meetings, which began with their matchup in the 2011 NCAA championship. For UConn, Karaban made his 94th career start despite suffering an ankle injury late in the previous game against Creighton. UConn’s rookie player, Liam McNeeley, missed his fifth straight game due to an ankle issue.

Crucial Moments:
Butler held an early lead in overtime, but Karaban managed to equalize with a three-point play and shortly after, Ball sank a three-pointer that shifted the momentum.

Key Statistics:
In overtime, UConn was successful with 4 out of 6 shooting attempts, showing improvement after struggling to convert in crucial moments during regulation.

Upcoming Matches:
Next, Butler will take on DePaul at home on Saturday, while UConn is scheduled to face Xavier away.