UConn Huskies at DePaul Blue Demons
· NCAA Men's Basketball
Alex Karaban scores 21 points as No. 5 UConn beats DePaul 72-54
Playing without Solo Ball, UConn (12-1, 2-0 Big East) posted its eighth consecutive win. It also improved to 22-1 against DePaul.
The Huskies held the Blue Demons to 36.4% shooting. Led by Tarris Reed Jr.'s 11 rebounds, they also enjoyed a 40-28 advantage on the glass.
Ball was sidelined because of a minor injury. The junior guard is averaging a team-high 15.4 points after he scored a career-high 26 in Tuesday night’s 79-60 victory over Butler.
Huskies guard Silas Demary Jr. ran off the court after he got sick early in the second half. But he returned with 14:28 left. He finished with 13 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
Layden Blocker had 11 points for DePaul (8-5, 0-2), which lost 79-66 at No. 22 St. John's in its Big East opener Tuesday night. Kruz McClure finished with 10.
The Blue Demons closed to 62-52 on Blocker's layup with 3:53 left. But Reed scored as the shot clock expired and Braylon Mullins drilled two 3-pointers to help the Huskies pull away.
Karaban made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1:30 left in the first half, helping UConn to a 33-30 lead at the break.
UConn carried the momentum into the second half. Malachi Smith converted a driving layup and Jaylin Stewart had an athletic putback that made it 44-34 with 14:32 left.
DePaul: At Villanova on Dec. 31.
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Recent Plays
| 2nd 0:00 | End of Game | 72 - 54 |
| 2nd 0:00 | End of 2nd half | 72 - 54 |
| 2nd 0:06 | Rrezon Elezaj Defensive Rebound. | 72 - 54 |
| 2nd 0:08 | Layden Blocker misses 27-foot three point jumper | 72 - 54 |
| 2nd 0:17 | Alec Millender makes driving layup | 72 - 54 |
Statistics
 CONN |
 DEP |
|
|---|---|---|
| 27-57 | FG | 20-55 |
| 47 | Field Goal % | 36 |
| 6-18 | 3PT | 3-13 |
| 33 | Three Point % | 23 |
| 12-16 | FT | 11-21 |
| 75 | Free Throw % | 52 |
| 40 | Rebounds | 28 |
| 11 | Offensive Rebounds | 10 |
| 29 | Defensive Rebounds | 18 |
| 15 | Assists | 7 |
| 6 | Steals | 7 |
| 8 | Blocks | 4 |
| 15 | Turnovers | 13 |
| 1 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
| 15 | Total Turnovers | 13 |
| 1 | Technical Fouls | 1 |
| 1 | Total Technical Fouls | 1 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 6 | Points Off Turnovers | 24 |
| 2 | Fast Break Points | 11 |
| 38 | Points in Paint | 20 |
| 20 | Fouls | 17 |
| 18 | Largest Lead | 8 |
| 5 | Lead Changes | 5 |
| 67 | Percent Led | 26 |
Game Information
Location: Chicago, IL
Attendance: 7,297 | Capacity:
2025-26 Big East Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| UConn | 2-0 | - | 12-1 |
| Creighton | 2-0 | - | 8-5 |
| Villanova | 1-0 | 0.5 | 10-2 |
| St. John's | 1-0 | 0.5 | 8-4 |
| Seton Hall | 1-1 | 1 | 11-2 |
| Butler | 1-1 | 1 | 10-3 |
| Xavier | 1-1 | 1 | 9-4 |
| Georgetown | 1-1 | 1 | 9-4 |
| DePaul | 0-2 | 2 | 8-5 |
| Providence | 0-2 | 2 | 7-6 |
| Marquette | 0-2 | 2 | 5-8 |