EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — Mel Brown had an impressive performance with 138 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Nick Evers contributed both through the air and on the ground as Connecticut secured a 34-27 victory over Georgia State on Friday night.

UConn (6-3) quickly established dominance by executing a 59-yard drive in just three plays during their first possession. Evers connected with Louis Hansen for a 2-yard touchdown pass, giving the Huskies an early 7-0 lead, aided by Brown’s explosive 52-yard run. Chris Freeman followed up with a long 42-yard field goal, ending the first quarter with Connecticut ahead 10-0.

Georgia State (2-6) responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive, culminating in a 7-yard touchdown from Zach Gibson to Ted Hurst, narrowing the gap to 10-7 early in the second quarter. The Panthers managed to recover a fumble near midfield, which led to a 30-yard field goal by Liam Rickman, tying the game at 10-10. UConn reclaimed the lead with a Freeman 28-yard field goal just before halftime, finishing the first half with a 13-10 edge.

In the third quarter, Cam Edwards’ notable 46-yard run set the stage for a 1-yard scoring run by Durell Robinson, extending the Huskies’ lead to 20-10. Rickman chipped away at the deficit for Georgia State with a 20-yard field goal at the end of a determined 16-play drive, narrowing the score to 20-13 heading into the final quarter.

With just under 13 minutes remaining, UConn solidified their two-touchdown lead as Evers scored on a 5-yard run. Following an interception by Malik Dixon-Williams and a subsequent 15-yard return, Brown executed a 31-yard touchdown run, pushing the Huskies’ lead to 34-13.

In a late-game surge, Georgia State fought back, with Freddie Brock breaking free for a 55-yard touchdown run, and Gibson following up with a 2-yard rushing touchdown in the final minutes. Despite their efforts, the Panthers could not overcome the early deficit, suffering their fifth consecutive loss.

Evers completed 10 of 16 passes for 75 yards and added nine rushing attempts for 25 yards, while Brown showcased his abilities with 14 carries. Edwards contributed with 88 rushing yards on 13 carries, and as a team, the Huskies amassed a total of 271 rushing yards.

For Georgia State, Gibson recorded 257 yards through the air, completing 28 of 40 passes with one interception, while Hurst caught seven passes for 91 yards. Brock also made his mark with 78 rushing yards on 10 carries.