UConn Dominates Wire-to-Wire in Thrilling Exhibition Against #22 MSU – A Must-See Recap!

HARTFORD – The UConn men’s basketball team, ranked No. 4, took charge early and defeated No. 22 Michigan State 76-69 in an exhibition game at PeoplesBank Arena on Tuesday night. Both Alex Karaban and Solo Ball stood out, scoring 18 points each. UConn maintained a solid lead, going up by as much as 19 points in the second half and finishing the preseason with a perfect 2-0 record.

UConn built an 11-point lead at halftime and kept a double-digit advantage for most of the second half. The game was intense, with 56 fouls called and 74 free throws taken, disrupting the flow for both teams.

Jayden Ross contributed 13 points in just 22 minutes off the bench, while Silas Demary Jr. added nine points along with three assists and rebounds in his first game for UConn. For Michigan State, Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper recorded double-doubles with 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Jeremy Fears Jr. led his team with 14 points.

UConn quickly jumped to an 8-1 lead, thanks to two 3-pointers from Demary Jr. and six points from Ball, building a 14-4 advantage. In the first half, Jacob Furphy set up Reibe for a dunk that increased the lead to 22-11. By halftime, UConn was ahead 44-33, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Karaban, the team’s largest lead of the half.

The second half began slowly for both teams until UConn unleashed an 11-0 run, featuring three consecutive 3-pointers from Ross, Smith, and Karaban, extending their lead to 63-44. Michigan State tried to make a comeback, narrowing the gap to 71-62, but UConn quickly responded, securing their lead for the win.

UConn shot 42.3% overall and 37.5% from beyond the arc, while holding Michigan State to 39.1% from the field. They also had a slight advantage in rebounds, grabbing 38 compared to Michigan State’s 34.

Quick Facts:

• This exhibition does not affect the historical series between the teams, which stands at 4-4.
• UConn will visit East Lansing for a return game during the 2026-27 preseason.
• Karaban was flawless at the free-throw line, hitting all eight attempts, while Ball shot 1-of-7 from three but made 5-of-5 from the free-throw line.

The upcoming regular season kicks off for UConn on November 3 against New Haven at Gampel Pavilion.

This game highlights UConn’s potential as they build momentum for the season ahead. As college basketball continues to evolve, keeping an eye on how teams mesh early in the season can be crucial for long-term success.

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