NEW YORK – The UConn men’s basketball team faced off against No. 10 St. John’s at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, seeking redemption after falling short earlier this month. Despite intense effort, the Huskies succumbed to the Red Storm, losing 89-75 before a capacity crowd of 19,812.
The game began with UConn battling uphill after trailing by as many as 22 points during the second half. The Huskies struggled offensively, with sloppy play leading to 18 turnovers, nine of which occurred within the first half, severely hindering their comeback efforts.
After entering halftime down 50-32, the Huskies came out reenergized. Alex Karaban emerged as the standout, scoring 15 of his team-high 17 points after the break, shrinking the Red Storm’s lead to single digits at one point. Nevertheless, St. John's maintained its composure, with solid defense proving decisive.
UConn started on shaky ground, with Tarris Reed Jr. initially providing some hope by scoring nine of his total 15 points in the first half. Reed’s performance was commendable, especially considering he managed six rebounds, all offensive. But foul trouble plagued him, and he fouled out with four minutes left, diminishing UConn's chances to rally.
St. John's utilized its size and physicality effectively, and they capitalized on UConn’s mistakes. The Johnnies managed to connect on three-pointer shots at key moments, shooting 47% from the field and 8-for-19 behind the arc. Surprisingly, St. John’s, who had been struggling with 3-point shooting throughout the season, found their rhythm just when it mattered most.
Notably, UConn struggled significantly from beyond the arc, shooting only 1-for-10 by halftime. The first-half stumbles were highlighted by Karaban’s four turnovers, which compounded the stress of St. John's full-court press.
Speaking of the Red Storm’s defensive prowess, coach Dan Hurley noted the challenge posed by Kadary Richmond, who had previously been explosive against UConn. Over the course of the game, Richmond proved pivotal once again, contributing 18 points alongside Zuby Ejiofor, who also scored 18, bolstering St. John’s scoring output.
Early on, St. John's pulled away during a 16-2 run, largely fueled by key three-pointers from RJ Luis Jr. and Aaron Scott. Luis Jr. had been previously deemed doubtful for the game, catching the Huskies off guard with his impactful return. He finished the game with 14 points.
Contending with St. John's pressure proved too much for the Huskies, which thwarted their focus and execution. Their inability to establish any rhythm was seen throughout the game as they lost the battle for composure and clarity under pressure.
Solo Ball, one of UConn’s reliable scorers, added only 15 points on 5-for-13 shooting. The expectation was for Ball, who averages 14.7 points, to step up during crunch time, but he could not find his shooting groove consistently.
Post-game reflections point to the need for UConn to improve moving forward. “We can't afford to turn the ball over like we did today,” Hurley remarked. “We have to take care of the basketball and execute offensively to become competitive against top teams.”
The loss dropped UConn to 18-9 overall and 10-6 in the Big East, complicate their aspirations for postseason play even more. With the season winding down, their NCAA tournament position hangs precariously, making their upcoming match against Georgetown on Wednesday exceedingly important. The Hoyas, standing at the bottom of the league standings, present UConn with necessary momentum to reset as they advance toward March Madness.
On the other hand, St. John’s celebrated their triumph, improving to 24-4 and 15-2 within the Big East, taking significant steps toward clinching the regular-season title.
With UConn now facing the uphill battle of recovery, the upcoming games will be integral not only for securing their future but also for asserting their capacity to compete on high stages again.