UConn basketball survived in an overtime victory over Villanova, 75-67.
UConn basketball and Villanova battled it out during this frigid Saturday afternoon in Hartford.
Matt Hodge started out hot for Villanova, hitting two quick three pointers in the opening minutes as Villanova jumped out to an 8-0 lead.
Silas Demary Jr. made it a point to attack the hoop early, converting two of his three drives for layups as UConn basketball went on a 9-0 run of their own to take the lead.
Both teams went cold for a stretch in the middle of the first half, with the Huskies going 1/7 from the floor and the Wildcats going 2/10.
The cold shooting continued throughout the half for both teams as UConn shot 33% and Villanova 37% from the field.
Villanova brought a 31 to 27 lead into halftime as the UConn basketball crowd was itching for a reason to explode, but UConn could not pull out in front.
The second half action started with a lot of moments that did not involve actual basketball.
First, star freshman Braylon Mullins headed back to the locker room early in the second half after taking an elbow to the head. Dan Hurley gave an update postgame and said that Mullins will be entering concussion protocol.
Then, later on, Hurley was going at it with the referees and was assessed a technical foul…against Villanova… in Hartford… by James Breeding… sounds eerily familiar, doesn’t it?
Hurley then added to the theatrics with an energetic successful challenge call on a missed out-of -bounds play, which resulted in a big bucket by Demary to cut Villanova’s lead down to 39 to 37.
Solo Ball hit a three-pointer midway through the second half to give UConn basketball its first lead since the 14:11 mark in the first half.
It was a back-and-forth affair from there, with both teams exchanging blows as the contest remained tight throughout the second half.
Alex Karaban hit a three to pull UConn ahead 56 to 54 with just over four minutes remaining, part of his 17 second half points after a scoreless first.
With the game tied in the closing seconds, neither team was able to get a shot up at the rim due to outstanding defense from both sides, and the game moved to overtime.
Overtime was no different from the rest of the game as both teams went back and forth throughout. Demary hit the dagger with 45 seconds remaining to put UConn up four as the Huskies proceeded to walk away with a hard-fought 75 to 67 win.
DAWGS ON TOP‼️ pic.twitter.com/wVGS0bX2tc
— UConn Men’s Basketball (@UConnMBB) January 24, 2026
UConn basketball’s rivalry with Villanova reignited
UConn basketball has been at the top of the college basketball world the past three seasons. And before them, Villanova could say the same, as both teams have won two national titles in the past decade.
Hurley had his infamous “You better get us now” quote following a defeat at the hands of Villanova eight years ago. He just did it again postgame after UConn pulled out their seventh win in their last eight matchups over the Wildcats.
“When I got to UConn, we were s**t, and Nova was on top… then Nova began to slip a little… what we saw today is the beginning of these UConn-Villanova games where both teams are at the top of college basketball,” said Hurley.
It is surprising that somehow, the two best Big East programs have never been at the height of their powers at the same time. Kevin Willard and Dan Hurley are looking to change that.
A missed opportunity for Villanova
This Villanova Wildcats team in Kevin Willard’s first season as head coach is proving to be among the top of the Big East.
Unfortunately, they just allowed a signature win slip through their fingertips as they had numerous opportunities to win this game.
Villanova is still in great shape to earn an NCAA Tournament bid as most Bracketologists project them as a 5 or 6 seed, but a win like this on the road against UConn would have firmly cemented them into the field of 68.
Villanova currently has three remaining Quad 1 games left on their schedule and will need to win at least one of those to further cement their place in the field.
Next for UConn basketball: vs. Providence (Tues., Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. EST)
Next for Villanova: vs. Providence (Fri., Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. EST)