Karaban Career Night Sends UConn to Sweet 16 With 73-57 Win Over UCLA

Posted : 23 March 2026

Second-seeded UConn powered past UCLA 73-57 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on Sunday night, with senior forward Alex Karaban producing a career-high 27 points to lead the Huskies into the Sweet 16. The result improves UConn's season record to 31-5, while UCLA, who were without leading scorer Tyler Bilodeau due to a knee injury, exit the tournament at 24-12.

Karaban finished 9-for-16 from the field, including four three-pointers, as UConn held UCLA to just 39 percent shooting and dominated the rebounding battle 36-24. He was the Huskies' most reliable weapon throughout, scoring their first eight points of the second half and anchoring a decisive 14-0 run that broke the game open. His fourth three-pointer of the night punctuated that run to push UConn ahead 56-44, and the Huskies were never seriously challenged after that.

Braylon Mullins bounced back from a rough start to the tournament with 17 points, including two key three-pointers in the first half that helped UConn seize control. Jayden Ross contributed 11 points and a plus-minus of +15, hitting back-to-back threes to give the Huskies their first lead of the night. Tarris Reed Jr. backed up his historic first-round performance with 10 points and 13 rebounds, recording his 12th double-double of the season.

Xavier Booker led the Bruins with 13 points, getting out to a fast start with 12 points and a perfect 4-for-4 from the field in the first half. However, UCLA could not sustain that momentum as UConn's defense tightened and key Bruin guard Trent Perry was held to just 5 points on 2-for-8 shooting.

UConn's first half was far from clean. The Huskies committed nine turnovers and trailed for much of the opening period before Karaban and Ross sparked a run to take a 38-33 lead into the break. UCLA opened the second half with a 6-0 run to briefly retake the lead, but UConn responded swiftly. Karaban drove hard to the basket, drew fouls, and kept the Huskies ahead. UCLA coach Mick Cronin was hit with a technical foul late in the game after disagreeing with a blocked shot call, and Karaban converted both free throws to push his total to a new career high of 27.

Dan Hurley, who won back-to-back national championships in 2023 and 2024, has UConn back in the Sweet 16 after they were eliminated in the second round last year by eventual champions Florida. The Huskies will now face third-seeded Michigan State in Washington D.C. on Friday night, with a potential Elite Eight clash against Duke or St. John's awaiting the winner.

Karaban Career Night Sends UConn to Sweet 16 With 73-57 Win Over UCLA

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