The No. 4 UConn men’s basketball team passed its first major test of the season, holding off the Michigan Wolverines 85-77 in a title game rematch. Braylon Mullins led UConn with 23 points, but the big story was Silas Demary Jr., who stuffed the statsheet with 21 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Freshman Colben Landrew joined them in double digits with 14 points and eight rebounds.
The Huskies are now 9-1 against the last 10 Big 10 teams they have faced.
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The game belonged to Demary Jr., who held Elliot Cadeau to only seven points on 3-11 shooting from the field. Quite the departure from only putting up an injury-riddled two points in the title game last April. UConn’s offense looked a little disjointed at times, and it was Demary that usually made the winning play when it mattered.
Michigan owned the points in the paint battle and the rebounding margin, but the Huskies won by shutting off the three, with the Wolverines shooting an anemic 6-26. Going 30-36 (83 percent) from the free throw line didn’t hurt, either.
First Half
UConn got dunked on immediately after the opening tip, and Braylon Mullins took it personally. The sophomore responded with six of UConn’s first 10 points and some never-before-seen emotion. Michigan would never lead again.
Demary Jr. joined the trey party, while the Huskies perimeter length forced a lot of tough looks from Michigan. The crafty Cadeau kept Michigan afloat though, and some trigger-happy officiating reduced the physicality.
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Despite the frenetic start, the Huskies offense was clunky at times, and fouls on the other end were an issue.
Mullins’ hot shooting helped offset five early offensive boards for Michigan. UConn racked up 10 team fouls with 7:47 to go, but Demary would not be denied, proving to be the same type of failsafe he was last year in Boston against BYU.
Michigan missed one of four from the free throw line after a UConn technical, a clip that fired up the Huskies faithful in Boston. The Huskies couldn’t find some separation from the Wolverines up until then. But after some free throws, a Giltay lob, and a Landrew triple, UConn was up 13 after the half on a 9-0 run. That last minute flourish masked an overall rudderless offense without Silas the savior.
The lead was nice, the turnovers (six) and fouls (13) were concerning, as was second-chance points edge the Wolverines had.
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Second Half
Even though Na’jai Hines and Nik Khamenia remained in foul trouble out of the break, two triples from Jayden Ross helped extend the lead. Landrew continued to flash, his downhill drives putting some much-needed pressure on the rim. But with the bigs rotating out with fouls and Landrew picking up his fourth, Michigan was able to chip away and quiet the crowd.
Even with Cadeau picking up his fourth foul, three-straight triples from Trey McKenney brought the lead back to single digits. (I will never forget McKenney for that dagger against UConn last year to seal the title game. Every time he rose up for a three I got a chill.)
Back from foul jail, a Hines putback and Khamenia triple restored order.
While the rest wasn’t pretty, the Huskies kept it double digits because Michigan couldn’t hit water from a boat.
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UConn handled the Michigan press well, even if the final product wasn’t always there. The final score may not indicate it, but this one was decided with over three minutes to play. McKenney finished with 22 points, a team-high for Michigan and one point short of Mullins’ game high of 23.
It wasn’t a resounding coronation, but who wants that in November? Nine assists on 23 made field goals is disappointing, as is losing the battle in the trenches inside. But Demary Jr. looks to be in a different gear, and there are too many weapons on the perimeter for everyone to be cold at once. Keep Mullins healthy and build on the gritty win.
Up next for UConn is a Monday night tilt against Wagner at Gampel Pavilion.
