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HARTFORD, Conn. — Alex Karaban showcased his skills by scoring seven of his overall 20 points during overtime, guiding the No. 11 UConn team to a hard-fought 94-89 win against Xavier on Wednesday night, marking the start of Big East play for both squads.
Solo Ball led the Huskies with an impressive 22 points, while Tarris Reed Jr. contributed 20 points, four of which came during the crucial overtime period. Reed also displayed his prowess on the boards by securing 13 rebounds throughout the game.
The game was tightly contested, with Liam McNeeley sinking two free throws just 12 seconds before the end of regulation after Dante Maddox Jr. of Xavier tied the game with his fifth three-pointer. A subsequent foul by UConn allowed Maddox to draw even again with two successful free throws and just 9.4 seconds left on the clock.
For Xavier, Ryan Conwell led the way with 23 points, while Maddox finished with 22. The team faced obstacles with key player absences; Zach Freemantle, the top scorer and rebounder for Xavier, is sidelined indefinitely due to a lower-body injury, and UConn was without starting center Samson Johnson, who is in concussion protocol.
Takeaways from the game indicate that Xavier is in the midst of a challenging stretch, taking on three ranked opponents consecutively. This marks a significant test as the last occurrence of such a demanding lineup was during the 2017 NCAA Tournament. Without Freemantle, who also missed the previous season, the team’s challenge is further compounded.
On the other hand, UConn won their conference opener despite a notable disadvantage in scoring from the 3-point line, having been outscored 39-24, which is unusual for them as they hadn’t been outscored from beyond the arc in their first ten matchups.
A key moment in the game occurred early in overtime when Xavier was trailing by just one point. Reed scored back-to-back baskets, allowing UConn to establish a two-possession lead.
Statistically, the Huskies capitalized on Freemantle’s absence by outscoring their opponents 50-28 in points scored in the paint. Remarkably, eight of UConn’s overtime points stemmed from inside the paint.
As for what lies ahead, the Musketeers are set to host No. 9 Marquette on Saturday, while UConn will travel to Butler on the same day.
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