PHILADELPHIA – Tarris Reed Jr. delivered an unforgettable performance that lit up March Madness. He scored 31 points and snagged 27 rebounds, leading the two-seed UConn Huskies to an 82-71 victory over No. 15 Furman. This win happened late Friday night in the 2026 East Regional at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Reed Jr. made history in this game. He became the first player in 58 years to achieve a 30-point, 25-rebound game in the NCAA Tournament, joining legends like Elvin Hayes and Jerry Lucas with this feat.
Despite the Huskies struggling with their outside shooting, Reed Jr. was unstoppable. At halftime, UConn led by just four points, but Alex Karaban stepped up, scoring 15 of his 22 points in the second half to help secure the lead. Reed Jr. shot an impressive 12-of-15 from the field and 7-of-9 from the free-throw line, contributing three assists to his impressive stats.
Braylon Mullins also added to the team’s success with 12 points and a career-high six assists. For Furman, Tom House and Alex Wilkins both scored 21 points, hitting eight 3-pointers between them.
### Game Breakdown
The game started with UConn charging ahead, scoring the first three baskets in a 9-2 run. Furman responded with a flurry of threes from Wilkins, bringing the score to a tight 16-15. The Paladins even took the lead briefly before Reed Jr. secured it back for the Huskies.
Although Furman kept the score close, UConn finished the first half leading 40-36, thanks largely to Reed Jr.’s dominant play. He logged 19 points and 16 rebounds in just the first half—a remarkable achievement noted by ESPN as showing unmatched efficiency.
Upon returning from halftime, UConn found their rhythm, hitting a couple of key three-pointers. However, Furman wasn’t finished yet. They continued to try and close the gap, but every time they scored, the Huskies had an answer.
Eventually, a crucial three-pointer from Karaban sealed the win for UConn, ensuring they wouldn’t let Furman threaten their lead again.
### Final Stats
– UConn shot 49.2% from the field but struggled with threes, only hitting 20%.
– They dominated in the paint, scoring 46 points to Furman’s 24.
– The rebounding battle was lopsided, 44-23 in favor of UConn, with 18 offensive rebounds leading to 16 second-chance points.
### Historical Highlights
This win puts UConn at 73-33 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and extends their first-round success to 22-5 since the current seeding began in 1979. Reed Jr.’s accomplishment of 31 points and 27 rebounds not only tied him for a rare NCAA Tournament milestone but also showcased an exceptional season for him. It was only the third 30-25 performance in any game since 2007.
Meanwhile, Karaban made history for UConn as the all-time leader in three-pointers made.
### What’s Next?
UConn will now face 7-seed UCLA on Sunday night. The stage is set for a thrilling showdown between two storied programs in college basketball.
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