By Harshit
NEW YORK, DEC. 9— 11:19 PM EDT
UConn men’s basketball returned to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night with another marquee non-conference test, facing No. 18 Florida in a highly anticipated rematch of last season’s dramatic NCAA Tournament meeting. What followed was a tense, physical, and momentum-shifting battle that lived up to the stage at the World’s Most Famous Arena.
Below is a live-blog style rewrite of how the night unfolded at MSG.
Pregame: Stakes High at the Garden
UConn entered the Jimmy V Classic riding confidence from recent wins over Illinois, Kansas, and BYU, while Florida arrived searching for consistency after uneven early-season shooting struggles. The matchup also marked the return of center Tarris Reed Jr. from an ankle injury, restoring the Huskies to full strength.
The pro-UConn crowd filled the building early, setting the tone well before tipoff.
First Half — Huskies Strike Early, Then Stumble
UConn wasted no time establishing an interior presence. Reed controlled the opening tip and scored on back-to-back possessions, powering the Huskies to an early 4–0 lead. Alex Karaban added a three-pointer, and Silas Demary Jr. converted an and-one to push UConn ahead 11–6 at the first media timeout.
Momentum briefly shifted when Florida responded with an 11–0 run, capitalizing on a four-minute UConn scoring drought. Xavian Lee’s free throw gave the Gators a 17–11 edge, exposing early offensive stagnation for the Huskies.
Foul Trouble Shapes the Half
The opening 12 minutes turned chaotic as whistles piled up on both sides. UConn saw Braylon Mullins, Silas Demary Jr., and both starting bigs pick up early fouls, forcing head coach Dan Hurley to rotate deeply. Florida wasn’t immune either, as point guard Boogie Fland collected three fouls before halftime.
Despite Florida dominating the offensive glass, UConn found salvation from beyond the arc.
Three-Point Barrage Fuels UConn Surge
UConn’s offense ignited late in the half. Solo Ball broke out of his shooting slump, scoring 12 first-half points while the Huskies hit eight straight field goals during a decisive run. With UConn shooting 56 percent from three, the foul trouble faded into the background.
At the break, UConn led 39–32, surviving despite being out-rebounded 10–0 on second-chance opportunities.
Second Half — Florida Pushes Back
Florida opened the half aggressively, trimming the deficit with quick scores and improved ball movement. Thomas Haugh drilled a three to give Florida its first lead since early in the game at 47–44, prompting an urgent timeout from Hurley.
What followed was the game’s most electric stretch.
Back-and-Forth Drama Inside MSG
Five lead changes occurred in under two minutes as both teams traded baskets. Eric Reibe finished repeatedly at the rim, while Mullins found rhythm offensively despite carrying fouls. UConn briefly reclaimed the lead at 56–55 before Florida answered yet again.
Madison Square Garden buzzed as chants echoed across the arena.
Karaban, Smith Deliver in the Clutch
Senior captain Alex Karaban delivered perhaps the defining sequence of the night. First came a rare defensive stop — a block on a driving Xavian Lee — followed immediately by a catch-and-shoot three from the right wing in transition. The shot ignited “U-C-O-N-N” chants throughout MSG.
Moments later, Dayton transfer Malachi Smith sliced through Florida’s defense with a Euro-step layup on the break, pushing the lead to 66–58 and forcing consecutive Florida timeouts.
Late Foul Drama, UConn Holds Firm
Freshman Braylon Mullins fouled out with 2:40 remaining after battling inside against Florida’s physical frontcourt. Florida briefly threatened at the line, but missed free throws and disciplined Huskies execution sealed control.
Alex Karaban struck again after the stoppage, extending the margin to 68–62, giving UConn breathing room in the final minutes.
MSG Delivers Once Again
UConn’s balanced attack, timely shooting, and composure under pressure proved decisive in another nationally significant win. Florida’s rebounding strength and pace kept the contest tight, but poor perimeter efficiency again limited their late push.
The Huskies leave Manhattan with another statement victory, reaffirming their comfort on college basketball’s biggest stages.