WASHINGTON, D.C. — It was all No. 2 UConn early on and at the end of Friday night’s Sweet Sixteen meeting with No. 3 Michigan State in Washington, D.C., as the Huskies jumped out to a 25-6 lead on the Spartans to later prevail by a final of 67-63.
Up 19 in what seemed like a blink of an eye thanks to Dan Hurley’s UConn starting unit of Tarris Reed Jr. (20 points), Alex Karaban (17 points), Solo Ball (12 points), Braylon Mullins (eight points), and Silas Demary Jr. (two points)—to go along with Malachi Smith (seven assists), Jaylin Stewart (four points) and Jayden Ross (two steals)—key contributors off the bench, all making an instant impact upon hitting the floor.
Along with Tarris Reed Jr., Alex Karaban carried the Huskies in crunch time Friday night to lead No. 2 UConn past No. 3 Michigan State in the Sweet 16 at Capital One Arena – Image Credit: Terry Mayo Jr./A Lot of Sports Talk
After that early Huskie run, Tom Izzo’s Spartans slowly but surely answered back, overcoming the double digit deficit to tie the game up in the second half and even take the lead.
Though that late game magic worked up by Michigan State was still not enough as UConn answered the bell quickly, executing clutch buckets down the stretch.
One of those shots resulted in the dagger, a Karaban three with one minute and 39 seconds remaining, which lifted UConn up, 61-57, at the time.
“The game was almost exactly what we expected, except going up 19, I don’t think that was on my Bingo card,” said Hurley, asking the media situated in the postgame press conference, “Is that what people say now?”
The 53-year-old, a two-time National Champion at UConn (2023 and 2024), advancing to his third career Elite Eight as a coach, then stated:
“Just couldn’t have more respect for Michigan State. Just to share the sidelines with coach (Izzo) and that program was an honor. Just so proud of these guys. Tarris (Reed Jr.) and Solo (Ball) and then Cap (Karaban) just willed up to the victory. Just thrilled to be advancing. It’s always great when you get to stay in town and be one of the last two teams standing.”
In their next time out on Sunday at Capital One Arena, Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies will be facing the number one-seeded Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight with a trip to the Final Four on the line – Image Credit: Terry Mayo Jr./A Lot of Sports Talk
By carrying their winning ways from Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia where the Huskies played their first two games of the 2026 NCAA March Madness Tournament last weekend vs. No. 15 Furman and No. 7 UCLA—to Capital One Arena in the nation’s capital this weekend—UConn secured their spot in the Elite Eight, rounding out the Final of the East Region.
No. 1 Duke (35-2) and No. 2 UConn (32-5)—the 11th all-time meeting between the two iconic programs with Duke leading the series matchup 6-4—scheduled for this Sunday at 5:05PM ET on CBS.
“I feel like it’s going to be difficult for both teams, I mean they are going to have to scout us knowing how complex our offense is and we’re going to have to scout them. So I feel like it’s going to be a great matchup and a great opportunity to show the world who we are.”
-UConn senior center Tarris Reed Jr. on the Elite Eight matchup ahead vs. Duke and the preparation behind it
The winner of the highly anticipated UConn-Duke contest in the East Region Final will move on to Indianapolis where the Final Four is set to be played next Saturday, April 4th.
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