No. 6 UConn bounces back to beat Xavier 93-68 in the Big East quarterfinals
UConn's Tarris Reed Jr., center, shoots over Xavier's Tre Carroll, left, and Jovan Milicevic during first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big East basketball tournament Thursday, March 12, 2026, in New York. Credit: AP/Frank Franklin II
NEW YORK — Tarris Reed Jr. had 17 points and 14 rebounds as No. 6 UConn cruised past Xavier 93-68 on Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament, bouncing back from a costly loss last weekend in the regular-season finale.
The Huskies (28-4) led by 22 in the first half against Xavier (15-18), which got as close as 13 early in the second before coach Dan Hurley's team pulled away again and left no doubt. Solo Ball's 3-pointer with just over 5 1/2 minutes remaining pushed the margin to 25.
Hurley was animated at times on the sideline but stayed in the game until it was over, unlike when he got ejected in the final second of a 68-62 defeat at Marquette on Saturday. That cost UConn a share of the Big East regular-season title and perhaps a chance at earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The second-seeded Huskies on Friday night face 11th-seeded Georgetown, which upset Villanova 78-64 to extend the Hoyas' improbable run. Top-seeded and 13th-ranked St. John’s plays No. 4 seed Seton Hall in the first semifinal at Madison Square Garden.
The semifinals feature four of the seven original Big East members for the first time since 1994.
UConn's size and talent was too much for the 10th-seeded Musketeers, who beat No. 7 seed Marquette 89-87 in the first round Wednesday night. Reed was one of three Huskies players in double figures, with Ball scoring 19 points and Alex Karaban 15.
UConn outrebounded the Musketeers 40-28 and outscored them 42-16 in the paint while shooting 57% from the field. Richard Pitino's group was just 19 of 51 for 37% shooting, with Filip Borovicanin leading all scorers with 22 points.
Xavier's Malik Messina-Moore (1) defends UConn's Malachi Smith (0) during first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big East basketball tournament Thursday, March 12, 2026, in New York. Credit: AP/Frank Franklin II
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UConn swept the regular-season season series against Georgetown, winning their matchups 64-62 and 79-75.
