UConn Breezes Past UCLA, Advances to Sweet 16

The UConn Huskies are returning to the Sweet 16 for the first time since their national championship season in 2023-24.

Alex Karaban scored a career-high 27 points on 9-of-16 shooting in the Huskies' 73-57 victory over No. 7-seed UCLA Bruins on March 22.

Karban also tallied five rebounds, an assist, a block and made a game-high four 3-pointers. The senior forward averaged 12.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, shot 47.8% from the field and 38.9% from three entering this game. His previous career-high was 26 points against Georgetown in 2023-24.

While UConn scored over 70 points for the second time this tournament, the Bruins struggled offensively without their star player, Tyler Bilodeau. UCLA's leading scorer was forward Xavier Booker, who put up a 13-point effort.

However, it wasn't a perfect game from UConn by any means. Solo Ball, Malachi Smith and Silas Demary Jr. had a combined four points, but the defense was enough to get the job done.

UConn out-rebounded UCLA by a whopping 12 boards and won the defensive rebound battle 25-16. The Huskies also forced seven steals and swatted five shots, while shooting 47% from the field and making five more free throws than the Bruins.

UConn Gets Healthy at the Right Time

Mar 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UConn Huskies guard Silas Demary Jr. (2) dribbles the ball against the UCLA Bruins in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Although Demary's only two points of the game came from the free throw line in 22 minutes of court time isn't great, it was encouraging to see him on the court again after his ankle injury on March 14.

Demary attempted just two 3-pointers and missed both, but contributed in other areas, like grabbing three rebounds, dishing out four assists and snatching two steals.

He and Jaylin Stewart missed the 81-72 first-round win over Furman on March 20, but were both dressed for this game. Stewart never checked into the game as he continues to recover from the knee injury that sidelined him for the entire Big East tournament.

UConn will now head to Washington, D.C. to face the No. 3-seed Michigan State Spartans on March 27. This affords the Huskies more time to heal and recover from the two do-or-die games this weekend.

Michigan State will be coming off a 92-67 win over North Dakota State and a 77-69 victory over Louisville in the second round. The last time the Huskies played the Spartans was in November 2021, when the two teams met in the Bahamas. Michigan State won that matchup 64-60.

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