No. 11 UConn needs OT to edge Xavier in Big East opener

Field Level Media|published: Wed 18th December, 23:52 2024

Dec 18, 2024; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; Xavier Musketeers guard Dayvion McKnight (20) drives the ball against UConn Huskies guard Hassan Diarra (10) in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Tarris Reed Jr. had 20 points and 13 rebounds as No. 11 UConn opened Big East play with a 94-89 overtime victory against Xavier on Wednesday in Hartford, Conn.

Reed, a transfer from Michigan, shot 7 of 11 from the field and connected on each of his six free-throw attempts.

UConn (9-3, 1-0 Big East) received 22 points from Solo Ball. Alex Karaban added 20 points for the Huskies, who have won five in a row since going 0-3 in the Maui Invitational.

Xavier's Ryan Conwell led all scorers with 23 points. The Musketeers (8-4, 0-1) also got 22 points from Dante Maddox Jr., who was 5 of 9 from 3-point territory. Xavier, which led 69-64 with 5:16 to play, made 13 of its 24 3-point attempts.

Maddox made two free throws that tied the game, 78-78, with 9.4 seconds left in regulation, and the game went to overtime when Ball missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer.

Overtime saw UConn extend to a seven-point advantage with 1:41 to go on two made free throws by Ball, and he again made two foul shots to close the game out with 17 seconds left.

Xavier was without forward Zach Freemantle, who is sidelined indefinitely with a lower-body injury sustained during a Saturday loss to Cincinnati. Freemantle leads Xavier in scoring (16.9 ppg) and rebounding (7.7 rpg).

UConn played short-handed as well. Samson Johnson, a 6-foot-10 senior center, did not play Wednesday after he sustained a concussion during a Saturday victory over Gonzaga. Johnson is averaging 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. UConn coach Dan Hurley said Johnson could return on Saturday to oppose Butler.

UConn led 20-10 with 10:25 remaining in the first half but failed to score over the next 6.47. That scoring drought allowed Xavier to go on a 12-0 run and take a 22-20 lead on a Marcus Foster layup with 5:42 left in the half. The Musketeers had a 30-29 advantage after 20 minutes.

UConn shot 36.4 percent from the field (12 of 33) in the first half, and its 29 points were the fewest the Huskies have scored in a first half this season.

--Field Level Media

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