No. 3 UConn opens title defense with rout of Sacred Heart

Alex Karaban scored a game-high 20 points and had a career-high seven blocked shots to help No. 3 UConn open its season with a 92-56 victory over Sacred Heart on Wednesday in Storrs, Conn.

Karaban made 7 of 9 field-goal attempts, including 5 of 7 from behind the 3-point arc for the two-time defending national champions. He also had six rebounds and seven assists.

UConn received 18 points and 10 rebounds from freshman forward Liam McNeeley. Solo Ball made 4 of 7 3-point attempts and added 16 points, and Michigan transfer Tarris Reed Jr. finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

The Huskies blocked 13 shots and made 13 of 31 3-point attempts, 41.9 percent, in the win. The Pioneers (0-2) shot 33.9 percent from the field, 19 of 56, and were 6 of 15, 40 percent, from 3-point range.

Amiri Stewart led the Sacred Heart offense with 13 points. Bryce Johnson finished with 10 points and five rebounds.

UConn shot 56.7 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes (17 of 30) and led 46-31 at halftime. The Huskies were 8 of 16 from 3-point territory prior to the break. The 15-point margin was UConn's largest lead of the half.

Sacred Heart trailed 35-29 before UConn used an 8-0 run to go up by 14. Ball made a 3-pointer with 47 seconds remaining to cap the first-half scoring.

The Pioneers missed their first 10 shots from the field in the second half and UConn stretched its lead to 57-33 on a 3-pointer from Ball with 14:49 to play. UConn held its largest lead, 41 points, after an Isaiah Abraham 3-pointer with 2:25 to go.

The Huskies finished the game with a 47-25 edge in rebounding.

Sacred Heart was coming off an 81-70 loss at Temple on Monday. Tanner Thomas led the Pioneers with 22 points in that game, but was held to six points in 29 minutes on Wednesday.

--Field Level Media