UConn Men’s Basketball Falls to Marquette 68-62 in Regular Season Finale

MILWAUKEE – A late surge wasn’t enough for No. 4 UConn, as the Huskies (27-4, 17-3 BIG EAST) fell to Marquette (12-19, 7-13 BIG EAST) 68-62 on Saturday afternoon at the Fiserv Forum, concluding their regular season with a setback. The loss prevented UConn from securing a share of the Big East regular-season title and casts a shadow over their March Madness aspirations.

UConn’s offensive struggles were glaring, particularly from beyond the arc where they connected on just 3 of 24 attempts. A staggering 16 turnovers further hampered their efforts, allowing Marquette to capitalize and ultimately seize control of the game in the second half. The defeat snapped a six-game winning streak for the Huskies in the series against the Golden Eagles.

Despite the team’s overall shooting woes, Tarris Reed Jr. Delivered a strong performance, posting his third consecutive double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Silas Demary Jr. Also contributed significantly, adding 17 points and a game-high eight assists, becoming the lone Huskies to reach double figures. For Marquette, Nigel James Jr. Led all scorers with 19 points and seven assists, spearheading a balanced attack that saw four Golden Eagles reach double-digit point totals.

The game began with UConn establishing an early lead, fueled by a three-pointer from Solo Ball to put them ahead 9-5. However, Marquette responded with a 7-0 run during a prolonged scoring drought for the Huskies, taking a 14-11 lead. UConn battled back, regaining the lead on a jumper from Reed Jr. A strong stretch in the first half saw the Huskies build their largest lead of the game, extending it to 31-23 after a pair of free throws from Jayden Ross. UConn entered halftime with a 35-33 advantage, despite their struggles from three-point range, largely due to a 23-9 edge in rebounding.

The second half saw a back-and-forth battle. While Reed Jr. Opened with consecutive baskets, Marquette quickly answered with a 6-0 run to tie the game. A three-pointer from Ball briefly restored UConn’s lead, but Marquette then unleashed a decisive run of their own. Royce Parham ignited the Golden Eagles with eight consecutive points, including two three-pointers, giving Marquette a 49-45 lead and forcing a UConn timeout. Marquette extended this run to 11-0, building their largest lead of the day at 52-45.

UConn attempted to claw their way back into the contest. A put-back dunk from Ross finally broke the Huskies’ field goal drought, but Marquette continued to apply pressure, extending their lead to 61-49 with back-to-back three-pointers. Another UConn timeout followed. Late in the game, Ross’s stick-back cut the margin to 64-60, but Marquette held firm. Reed Jr. Converted a pair of free throws to bring the Huskies within two with under a minute remaining. UConn secured another stop, giving them a final opportunity to tie the game, but Demary Jr.’s driving shot in the closing seconds was unsuccessful.

UConn’s shooting performance was a significant factor in the loss, finishing at 35.6% from the field and a dismal 12.5% from three-point range. Conversely, Marquette shot 47.9% from the field and 38.1% from beyond the arc. UConn did manage to control the boards, finishing with a 40-25 rebounding advantage and outscoring Marquette 15-2 in second-chance points. They also held a 34-26 edge in points in the paint and a 10-4 lead in bench scoring.

The loss marks the first time this season UConn has been defeated when winning at halftime, having previously been 23-0 in such contests. It was also their first defeat when out-rebounding their opponent, a feat they had accomplished in all 21 previous games this season.

Alex Karaban continued to make his mark in UConn’s record books, extending his program record with his 141st consecutive start. He also appeared in his 142nd career game, one shy of tying Shabazz Napier’s program record of 143. Karaban has played 4,592 minutes, 32 shy of Napier’s program record of 4,614, and currently has 1,754 career points, trailing Kemba Walker (1,783) for ninth and Ryan Boatright (1,786) for eighth on the all-time scoring list.

Adding a layer of controversy to the defeat, UConn head coach Dan Hurley was ejected from the game with one second remaining after arguing a no-call on a potential foul committed against Demary Jr. While driving to the basket. Hurley reportedly approached official John Gaffney and voiced his displeasure, leading to two technical fouls and his ejection. Hurley maintained he did not make physical contact with the official, though replays suggested otherwise. The Big East has stated it is reviewing the incident.

The loss is a significant blow to UConn’s hopes of sharing the Big East regular-season title with St. John’s. The Huskies will now turn their attention to the Big East tournament, which begins on Wednesday in New York, awaiting confirmation of their quarterfinal opponent. Despite the setback, UConn remains a formidable force, but this loss serves as a stark reminder of the competitive landscape of college basketball and the importance of consistent performance as they head into the postseason.