STORRS, Conn. — In an exciting matchup on Wednesday night, No. 25 UConn battled back from an early challenge to secure a 76-72 victory over No. 15 Baylor in the Big 12-Big East Battle. Liam McNeeley was instrumental for the Huskies, contributing 17 points toward their win.

Solo Ball played a crucial role down the stretch, sinking two key free throws and wrapping up the night with 11 points. Samson Johnson added 13 points to UConn’s tally, highlighting their resilience as the two-time defending NCAA champions improved to 6-3 for the season.

For Baylor, the 2021 national champion, Robert Wright III led the scoring with 22 points, accompanied by Langston Love’s 16 and Norchad Omier, who chipped in 14 points. The game showcased the two teams’ talents and competitiveness as they faced off.

After an intense start where Baylor jumped to a commanding lead, scoring the first seven points and establishing an 11-point advantage in the first half, UConn began to regain control. Aidan Mahaney sparked a surge with a crucial 3-pointer, complemented by Tarris Reed Jr.’s four points during a 10-2 run that allowed UConn to pull ahead by eight with just over seven minutes left in the game.

As Baylor’s Jeremy Roach made a driving layup to edge the team up 37-36 at halftime, it marked the end of an action-packed first half. However, 15 minutes and 41 seconds into the second half, Roach left the game due to an apparent injury and did not return, placing extra pressure on the Baylor squad.

UConn faced its own challenges as they played for the second consecutive game without leading scorer Alex Karaban, who is currently recovering from a concussion. Additionally, Baylor missed out on the contributions of freshman VJ Edgecombe due to a hamstring injury.

Ultimately, the game exemplified the tenacity and dedication of both teams, with UConn finding a way to seize the victory in a tightly contested battle.