STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Alex Karaban had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Solo Ball scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half as No. 4 UCON beat New Haven 79-55 on Monday night to win its season opener for the ninth straight season.
Jaylin Stewart added 11 points and eight rebounds for UConn.
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Husky has 10 new players on the team with transfer Silas Demaree Jr. and freshman Eric Rabe starting in the opener.
Andre Pasha scored 17 points for New Haven in its first game at the Division I level.
The Chargers were within two points with 14:01 left in the first half. The Huskies scored 11 of the next 13 points. Alec Millender's 3-pointer gave the Huskies their first double-digit lead.
With New Haven trailing by just 10 points after Najimy George's 3-pointer with 15:30 left in the game, UConn's Solo Ball was fouled on 3-point shots on consecutive possessions. He made all six free throws, had a pair of blocked shots and added an assist on Dwayne Koroma's 3-point play to give the Huskies some extra breathing room.
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New Haven has played in the NCAA Division II Tournament 10 times from 1987 to 2023. Five of those occurred during current head coach Ted Hotaling's tenure. The Chargers joined the Northeastern Conference after years of playing in the Northeast Ten.
UConn was 2 of 10 from 3-point range before Ball and Karaban hit back-to-back shots late in the first half to give the Huskies a 37-24 lead at halftime.
Tarris Reed Jr. missed the UConn game as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury he suffered in the preseason. Preseason Big East Freshman of the Year Braylon Mullins and fellow freshman Jacob Furphy were also ruled out of the game.
Next
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New Haven: Plays home opener Friday against Columbia.
UCLA: The Huskies will face UMass Lowell in Hartford on Friday.
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