UConn Survives Villanova Scare With Overtime Triumph

Villanova and UConn fans packed PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford on Saturday, January 24, 2026, for a Big East clash that lived up to every bit of its billing. The No. 2 Connecticut Huskies, riding a formidable 14-game winning streak, were pushed to the brink by a gritty Villanova Wildcats squad before ultimately prevailing 75-67 in overtime—a victory that extended UConn’s streak to 15 and solidified their place atop the conference standings.

From the opening tip, it was clear Villanova came to play. Matt Hodge lit up the early minutes, draining a pair of three-pointers as the Wildcats’ defense stifled the Huskies, holding them scoreless for the first 3:13 and building an 8-0 lead. Villanova’s defensive intensity was on full display, limiting UConn to just 10-of-30 shooting (.333) in the first half, and only 3-of-11 from deep. At the break, the underdogs held a 31-27 advantage, buoyed by strong contributions from Devin Askew and Duke Brennan.

But UConn, as expected, wouldn’t go quietly. The Huskies, who entered the day with an 18-1 record (8-0 Big East), had history and momentum on their side. Villanova led the all-time series 40-38, but UConn had claimed six of the last seven meetings—a trend they were determined to continue. The Huskies clawed back in the second half, with Solo Ball erupting for a career-defining performance. Ball, who’d struggled with his shot all season, broke out in spectacular fashion, finishing with 24 points on five three-pointers. "This was a really good step forward," UConn head coach Dan Hurley said of Ball. "The guy is a beautiful shooter."

The second half was a rollercoaster, featuring eight lead changes and four ties in the final 10 and a half minutes. Tensions boiled over when Hurley was assessed a technical foul about five minutes into the half—a moment that echoed a similar incident four years prior in the same building. "For me and James, history almost repeated itself," Hurley quipped, referencing official James Breeding. "I was proud of my impulse control, and James gave me a little bit of a leash there." The Wildcats capitalized, with Askew and Acaden Lewis combining for four straight free throws to give Villanova a 39-33 lead.

Yet, UConn responded with a 9-0 burst, capped by a Ball triple and an Eric Reibe reverse layup. The Huskies’ resilience was on full display, and as regulation wound down, the teams traded blows. Villanova’s Tyler Perkins—who would finish with 16 points and 10 rebounds—kept the Wildcats in it, hitting a clutch three early in overtime. Brennan, another standout for Villanova, notched a double-double with 16 points and 14 boards, but foul trouble limited his impact late.

UConn’s Alex Karaban, who had been held scoreless for the first 31 minutes, caught fire when it mattered most. All 17 of his points came in the final 14 minutes of regulation and overtime, including two critical free throws with 1:23 left in the extra period. "It was ironic that I was at the line to finish the game," Karaban said. "But I wasn't thinking about it whatsoever. I learned from that game, I grew from it and put it behind me and saw it as a learning opportunity. I thought it was pretty cool I was able to finish the game off with free throws."

As both teams traded leads in overtime, Villanova briefly surged ahead 64-61 after Perkins’ three. But the Huskies responded with an 8-0 run to close the game, fueled by Karaban’s free throws and a Silas Demary Jr. layup with 48 seconds left. Demary, who scored the 1,000th point of his college career earlier in the game, added 10 points, seven assists, and three steals. Tarris Reed Jr. also chipped in with a double-double for UConn, tallying 10 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out in overtime.

Villanova’s shooting woes—just 20-of-59 from the field (.339)—proved costly, particularly in the closing moments. Head coach Kevin Willard, though disappointed, remained optimistic. "I thought we did some really good things defensively to keep them off balance," Willard said. "Give them credit: Solo Ball played great." He added, "That's all right. We're a young team. Guys were trying to make plays. I thought we had a chance to make some plays at the rim that we weren't able to make." Brennan, reflecting on the close defeat, offered, "It hurts. That's a great team over there. We fought to the end. It's a tough one. It feels like it got away."

The afternoon wasn’t without its drama and adversity. UConn freshman Braylon Mullins left the game early in the second half with a head injury and did not return, later entering concussion protocol. Despite the setback, the Huskies found a way, with Hurley noting the significance of the win. "Heckuva Big East game," he said. "That's a true definition of a Big East Conference game right there." The victory marked UConn’s 15th straight—their longest single-season win streak since 1994-95—and improved their record to 19-1 overall, 9-0 in league play.

Meanwhile, the SportsLine Projection Model had predicted a high-scoring affair, and while the actual combined total (142 points) fell just short of the model’s 148-point projection, the contest certainly exceeded expectations for drama and intensity. UConn, a 10.5-point favorite according to DraftKings Sportsbook, was pushed to the limit by a Villanova squad that continues to show promise despite falling to 15-5 overall and 6-3 in the Big East.

Beyond the box score, the game featured moments that will linger with fans and players alike. Demary’s 1,000th career point, a standing ovation for legendary UConn coach Jim Calhoun, and Hurley’s animated interactions with the crowd and officials all added to the spectacle. As Hurley summed up, "You're 19-1, you've won 15 in a row, played a heckuva non-conference schedule. I'm not going to take the joy out of being in a great spot."

As the Big East race heats up, both teams will look to build on Saturday’s lessons. For UConn, the win was another step toward conference dominance and national ambition. For Villanova, the near-upset serves as proof that, despite youth and growing pains, the Wildcats remain a force to be reckoned with in the weeks ahead.